Philippines

Photo: Our Philippines Director is happy to show us the “mother fish” that will multiply into an abundant harvest in 6 months’ time.

We’re very excited to announce that our new small-scale fishery project has now been completed on the island of Cebu in the Philippines. The new concrete-lined pond holds a volume of approximately 20,000 gallons (75,000 liters) of fresh water pumped from our on-campus well. The fishery is located on our existing campus on Cebu. Also on the same property is our hen house which produces over 20 dozen eggs daily, and a banana grove that yields over 6,000 bananas annually.

Photo: Students at our main campus are happy to show you eggs yielded from the newly renovated hen house.

In November we brought you news of Typhoon Hayan, one of the worst storms in history, making a direct hit to the island on which our native team faithfully operates. We had told you we committed to helping 21 families who had lost everything. Thanks to your support, work is coming along and we’re helping these families to slowly rebuild and get their lives back together. One thing that has helped provide these families with sustenance is the steady flow of eggs from our hen house, allowing an important high-protein ingredient in their diets.

Photo: Children in our Manila slum outreach education program enjoy after-school activities including computer literacy classes.

Deep in the heart of one of Manila’s most hazardous slums, our children’s outreach center is shining the light brightly into the darkness of child labor and malnutrition. Situated on the edge of a huge city landfill, the Payatas Colony is a living nightmare where children play in contaminated drainage and are working in unthinkable, hazardous conditions as young as age 5.

Photo: A widow being cared for by our native team is happy to receive fresh groceries and clean water as she recovers from Typhoon Haiyan.

Our native team is coordinating local relief efforts in response to one of history’s most powerful storms ever recorded. The storm made a direct hit across Cebu Island, where several of our programs are based, including our main campus. Rather than take a broad approach, we’ve instead opted to care for 21 families and 16 widows severely affected by the storm, so we can more effectively ensure a long-term beneficial use of relief funds.

Photo: Children on the island of Cebu who are among the estimated 500,000 now homeless.

Thanks to a steel-reinforced rebuild of our Philippines main campus two years ago after a similar cyclone nearly destroyed our entire facility, our native team remained safe and dry during one of the strongest storms in recorded history. This allowed for our team to be among the first responders to the heartbreaking devastation the storm left in its path. Our team is headquartered on the island of Cebu, one of the most severely affected islands in the path of the storm.

Photo: Thanks to your support, his mother earns a good income through our crafts business program, ensuring his proper nutrition and a brighter future.

Now in the third year of our craft-making business empowerment program in the Philippines, we continue to see great progress and success among the women enrolled. We originally trained 25 widows and single mothers in various weaving skills. Of the original group, 19 have remained in the program and are seeing significant income generation, and a handful of new trainees are quickly seeing success as well.