Last June, I shared with you the need to raise $10,000 to build a girl’s dormitory at a tribal school in the Philippines…I place I lived for nearly a year, volunteering with an amazing Christ-centered microfinance organization called the Center for Community Transformation (CCT). I was truly humbled and in awe of your generosity and support, and am beyond excited to share this update with you! The school decided on using the funds to build a new classroom, turning an existing building into the dorm, and thanks to your generosity, the building is complete! The email below is from our CCT liaison, Ate Arlene, and just to clarify a term…”Kaibigans” is the Tagalog word for “friends” and these are men and women who used to live on the streets with no job or home, who CCT gave a place to live, formal training in hands-on skills, and then employed with meaningful work.

“Just like to send you an update of the special project fund we received from you – additional classroom for our Quezon Palawan Elementary School for Tribal Students.

We started the work last March and the construction continued in the midst of Corona Virus because the workers are there already in the mountain and we don’t want to waste time, and they also need to be productive as they cannot go back to Manila. The Kaibigans built the classroom. Supposedly we requested for one classroom but to maximize it, we have made it a bit bigger in size and will put a moving wall divider so we can serve 2 grade level and turn them to 2 classrooms This can also serve as a function hall where  we can meet the students there for group activities.

When I saw these pictures sent over to me, I was overjoyed as I remember God’s goodness and faithfulness. I am reminded that He will continue to use people from different parts of the world to bless us and keep the ministry going in the midst of our present situation. The mothers and some students nearby who saw this were already excited to go to school in the coming months.

Thank you dear PEER Family for responding to our needs. Thank you for your unwavering support all these years. Thank you for your love and friendship. On behalf of CCT Group, Visions of Hope, Kaibigan Ministry and the students and teachers and whole community of Cacawitan Palawan, Maraming Salamat po!!! The Lord bless you a thousandfold. We will be sending you in the weeks to come once this is completed.”

Blessings,

Arlene

Next Saturday, June 6th, I will be joining my PEER Servants family from all over the globe in the Virtual Walk for Economic Empowerment, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars since inception in 2006…every penny going to empowering the materially poor through microfinance, education, and youth empowerment partner programs. In light of COVID-19, this year’s will be a Virtual Walk with 100% of the funds raised going to the global Coronavirus Response Fund.

I am walking for Team Philippines and our goal is to raise $10,000+ which will support CCT as they extend their services to the at-risk children in the Philippines. 100% of what we raise will go to CCT’s coronavirus response through humanitarian outreach to the materially poor children and families they serve along with payroll protection for their staff. If we are able to reach the $10,000 goal, a generous donor will provide a $5,000 match, bringing our total to $15,000+.

The construction of this school building is a first-hand example of what a huge difference $10,000 can make in the lives of the Filipinos within CCT’s reach…enabling them to be the first in their families to receive an education, and employing those who once lived on the streets and are now gainfully employed.

If you’d like to know more about the work that CCT is doing, or how the funds will be used, please ask! And I have many other blog posts that go in detail into the amazing work they do.

If you would like to support my team on our Walk for Economic Empowerment next Saturday, please click the link below. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.