Aid to Refugees of Storms, Floods, and Violence

Dear Friends,

During 2023, Asia America Initiative and local partners have been bringing relief to remote communities that have been pummeled repeatedly by massive storms, flooding, drought and earthquakes. Local craftsmen are willing to use their skills to rebuild, but they are often abandoned by government at all levels.  Donations from private sources such as our relationship with GlobalGiving and private online members have made a heartwarming and effective differences.  Most importantly, We are restoring faith that people do care about each other in this troubled world.  Thus far, more than 72,000 people of all ages have received direct support, and more than 500,000 have had their lives improved.

AAI President, Albert Santoli says, "I never cease to be amazed by the kindness of strangers who see a desperate human need and try to fill it with hope and generosity. Most of our donors are from the United States where money does not "grow on trees" and we also face a challenging future.  This Thanksgiving holiday, AAI sends a heartfelt Thank You to our expanding team everywhere."

Throughout 2023, Asia America Initiative, our One World Institute partners and our local volunteers have been travelling continuously throughout the three main regions of the Philippines to conduct relief in areas hit hard by flooding during the past10 years. We are providing needed housing materials and reconstructing schools through the expertise and labor of local craftsmen and their families.  In remote lowland and highland areas, we provide supplies, food, and clean water.  And to prevent diseases, we have been helping these communities rebuild clinics, dig wells, and to build toilets to prevent the spread of illnesses.

The United Nations has named the Philippines as the most hard hit country by natural disasers.  Every year, thousands of families in the Philippines are displaced by volcanoes, typhoons, fires, and floods. Rather than seek to attract hundreds of thousands of victims into makeshift villages with unstable government funding, we encourage families stay in their hometowns and rebuild with their own skills and joyful labor.  "It is the support of kind outsiders like GlobalGiving that has instilled hope and funded enterprise into communities who would have despaired," Santoli says.

If you would like to add to your support, please click on the link below. We are accepting donations to send tons of supplies to AAI-supported communities in the weeks to come.

Thank you for helping families who have become refugees and can now find their way home. Wishing you all Happy Holidays.

Aid to Refugees of Taal Volcano, Floods, COVID-19

Thank you,

Albert Santoli

Director Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website