Empower 500 Homeless Girls with Books and Wellness

Dear Friends,

Asia America Initiative and our partners have made Share-a-Book events an integrated activity in supporting communities  devastated by flooding throughout the Philippines. The archipelago of 7000 islands of all shapes and sizes once again is recognized by the United Nations and other global natural disaster watch groups as the most highly impacted nation in the world.  The ongoing sequence of continuous volcanoes in the surrounding Ring of Fire region has impacted high-impact shifting cycles of El Nino and La Nina temperatures, tides and winds that create unexpected and sometimes severe storm cycles. Since Christmas season 2022, our relief programs have aided more than 500,000 people of all ages, from infants to great-grandparents in more than 100,000 families.

Annually, thousands of Filipino families became homeless due to non-stop calamities, including earthquakes, typhoons, floods, volcanoes, armed conflict, and fires.  Girls, due to their specific health and educational needs,  are often the most seriously affected. This project empowers girls made homeless for months and years from these disasters by providing books and school supplies to continue their education and hygiene supplies for wellness programs.  Our teams have served isloated mountain-top communities and lowland areas with severe damage in homes, schools and hospitals submerged in flood waters.  Areas we have assisted include Quezon, Batangas, Mindoro and the Ilocos mountainous regions of Luzon, in the north; Cebu, Cuartero, Capiz, Tinglayan Kalinga, Leyte and Samar in the central Visayas Region; and Davao, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Cotabato; Kidapawan, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Zamboanga and Sulu in the southern Mindanao region. 

In mountainous and lowland areas,entire families are displaced and often underserved by provincial and national government live in open-air evacuation centers. Access to safe shelter, education, clean water, and sanitation is extremely limited. Lack of hygiene is a major cause of illness. The lack of schools, essential books, and classroom supplies prevent adequate learning. "The provision of books in rebuilt schools in communities recovering from floods is a wonderful blessing for forgotten communities," says Dr. Yolanda, lead organizer of AAI-OWI-IPI community-based volunteers.   "Entire families are so excited to know that some one 'out there' in the world cares about them... This has also helped to build peace and cooperation among neighboring Christian and Muslim discplaced communities." 

Our corps of volunteers has grown.  This is due to the dedication, commitment and bonds of trust between AAI, One World Institute and Philippines-based International Pharmaceutical Foundation with a number of US and local community organizations such as the Lion's Club, Filipino Overseas Workers associations and retired police and military veterans.  In addition, local citizens of all ages have joined our expanding teams of aid workers and volunteers.

AAI's long-term goal is to encourage all people who have survived devastating storms, especially girls, to excel in literacy, promote peace, and offer a safe environment for girls to achieve their dreams with dignity while developing job skills despite their challenging situations.

If you would like to add to your support or begin a monthly donation, please click the link and GlobalGiving will prepare that for you to assist in this worthwhile endeavor.

Empower 500 Homeless Girls with Books and Wellness

Thank you,

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website