Community Development
Our desire is to build capacity and dignity, raise self-esteem, and help people discover what it takes to live an abundant life. It looks different for everyone. Therefore, our projects are diverse and varied. From maintaining a library in a rural island province to establishing a children’s clinic in a crowded mega-city, we will do what it takes to give people a hand-up rather than just a hand-out. And never forget, we believe all of this can be done at the grassroots level. So our teams are small, our resources limited, and we don’t promote much fanfare. If we can boast about anything, it’s that we rely on the existing assets and good heartedness of the communities we serve. The tools for thriving are right in front of your eyes - our only job is to unearth the value that lies within.
Education…
Innovative ways to deliver supplemental education that supports existing, local initiatives is at the bedrock of what we do. We work with community leaders to explore our role in supporting education that can lead to a fulfilling and bright future. From computer literacy programs, English classes, livelihood training, agricultural demonstrations, and even enhancing teaching methodologies for educators already working at an institution, we are only limited to what our long and short-term volunteers can offer. We’ve even entered into a new realm, facilitating online subjects for rural communities that cannot easily access information from where they are. And for places without online access at all, we work out a way to install “internet-in-a-box” educational units to those that need it most.
Innovating Education
Whether it’s introducing technological advancements into the classroom and teaching educators how to implement those resources, or bringing in Remote Access Community Hotspots for Education and Learning (R.A.C.H.E.L. Plus Devices), we are constantly evolving and researching new ways to help teachers serving students in underserved communities. And the only way our small team can do so is through partnerships with organizations such as Teach Beyond and Word Possible.
Leadership Development
Head Start is our Leadership Professional Development program run by Toby Huyssen of OTI Philippines. Our instructors offer their services at high schools, universities, and even corporations such as call center establishments. We hope that learning about how to become successful in school and in your career by first learning about yourself will allow people to thrive in life. Education is much more than just your typical general courses like math and science. It’s also about life skills!
Healthcare
Community Healthcare
An undeniably critical aspect of holistic development is healthcare. Though we are not a hospital or medical mission employing a plethora of healthcare professionals, we spend a large portion of our time and energy addressing this need with the help of partners. Our headquarters houses a small, outpatient children’s clinic (The Hope Kids Clinic) led by pediatrician Dr. Becky Llamado and her staff of community health workers. Volunteers serve as patient advocates, bridging existing resources to the poorest of the poor and activating already built systems. Workers also teach community basic life support, hygiene, nutrition, and other stand-alone topics such as hypertension management. An important part of healthcare is nutrition, so we cook and distribute healthy meals to those suffering from malnourishment. As often as we can, distributing vitamins and supplements is necessary. EMT's and first responders are also on hand to help the community in medical emergencies.
Nutritional Programs
For children to develop properly and to truly retain the things they are learning in school, it’s important to provide nutritious meals to those that cannot afford it. Our recipients have been identified as either malnourished, orphaned, or internally displaced. Since we cannot provide for all of the hungry kids in the Philippines, we have to be selective and intentional about what we do. And it’s a community effort. Local volunteers help cook the food, others deliver, and willing helpers distribute. Often, the older recipients of our programs are the volunteers who make it all happen. From the rural island of Catanduanes to the heart of Metro Manila, feeding programs are an essential element in our approach to helping underserved communities.
Take a look at what some of our projects look like…
Mobile computer course for teachers at a rural allocation.
Rescue and salvage course for government disaster response team.
Underwater clean up and coral reef restoration program.
Trekking to a remote village to deliver supplies and to bring educational materials.
High school diploma course for inmates at a jail.
Supplemental education courses in support of elementary school teachers. Reading stories and bringing snacks to students and giving full time educators a break.
Teaching local residents about aquaponics.
Our first project was located in the small rural island of Catanduanes in the Philippines. The Enrichment Center eventually became a library and the offices of the International Service Corps of Asia.