The Calvadores family’s donated trike helps others escape a disaster

Meet the Calvadores family of Garawon, Eastern Samar, who lost five family members to Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

On the same month a year later, father of the family Edwin received a tricycle from British American Tobacco. This lets him to go back to his original livelihood of delivering bread for a bakery in the town proper, which he lost when his tricycle was washed away by the same waters that swept away his family members.

A few weeks later, as another strong typhoon (Ruby) threatened to destroy many of the same cities and towns that Yolanda had devastated. Edwin’s trike and two others donated by British American Tobacco to Yolanda victims found a special use: evacuating coastal residents to higher ground where they could seek shelter away from the storm. Thanks to increased awareness, Filipinos were better prepared this time around.