In the summer of 2015, Robert Graveline (civil engineering) '16 traveled to Tacloban, Philippines, with a Kellogg Institute Summer Research Grant. From Monday, June 22, he shares....
Most of my time is taken doing interviews. I am talking a lot with NGO leaders, government leaders, and local community leaders. I am trying to figure out in what ways the government (who is running the show down here) is listening (or not listening to) the needs of the local people in terms of decision-making. Specifically, the government is planning to evict people living in unsafe areas and to forcibly move them to safer areas, albeit areas where they would be jobless and without education and basic services. I am investigating that issue, along with trying to determine what is being done to help the people who are not living in the high danger zones, but still need help (answer: not much at all). So, it appears as if all the efforts are focused in relocating people who do not want to be relocated and not helping other people who do need help. This is a very big picture look but overall I have a lot of good information and I am on a good track to write a thesis on the importance of communication and empowerment in development situations.