Over the first weekend in April, more than one hundred children from various communities around Dumaguete gathered for ICM’s annual Kid’s Camp. Held over three days, Kid’s Camp provided a platform for local children to experience the pleasure of companionship, and to share their happiness with staff, volunteers and other children. Please enjoy watching Kids Camp 2016 highlights. Through...

A few weeks ago, I was privileged to attend the graduation of seven of the 12 Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Jumpstart Kindergartens operated by ICM and privately funded by donors. After 10 months of learning, over 180 children were celebrating their graduation, flanked by proud parents and teachers. They looked so smart and happy in their...

Reynanye is seven years old and lives with his mother Miraflor and four siblings in a poor community. In early 2015, Reynanye began having trouble with his vision. Despite the family’s financial situation, Miraflor made an eye appointment for Reynanye, where the young boy was diagnosed with major congenital cataracts. In August 2015, Reynanye underwent...

The focus of 2016’s World Health Day is diabetes, which affects around nine in every 100 adults worldwide. Diabetes can cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. However, diabetes and its complications can often be prevented by a healthy diet, regular physical activity and the avoidance of tobacco. According to the World Health Organization,...

Three years ago, Elsa’s already difficult life became an absolute nightmare. Unable to find work locally, her husband went to Manila to find a way to support his wife and four children. Three days later she found out her husband had been killed in an accident. After her husband’s death, Elsa’s behavior became marked by...

Josefa wanted to find a job that would let her support her family. With her partner, Henry, only working part-time as a seasonal carpenter, the family of six lived on a daily income of US$1.14 for the entire family. The 43 year-old mother had always wanted to find something that could supplement her husband’s income, but...

As a child, Gerlie wanted to attend school. Even at a young age, she knew that education was important. Gerlie’s parents, however, refused her request for an education because there was no money to cover the costs of transportation, shoes and the school uniform. Wanting to escape the demands of her family, Gerlie married her...

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, ICM proudly shares the stories of three women who participated in one of ICM’s programs and are able to contribute to their families’ social and economic achievement in the Philippines. Transform When asked to join ICM’s 16 week Transform program, Maria wasn’t sure how it could...

When Raquel Hopton joined ICM as an summer student, she was confident that after her three months internship, she would be headed back to the USA to start her master’s degree. Five years later…Raquel is still in Asia and helping the poorest of the poor.   Raquel Hopton grew up in the Midwest USA and...

Leonila had a small shop, however the paltry income made from daily sales was not enough to adequately provide for her husband and son. When asked by her local pastor if she was interested in attending ICM’s Transform program, Leonila quickly agreed.  Even though it meant she’d have to close her shop one afternoon a...