World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of clean water. Amongst the people ICM works with in the Philippines, there is a lack of easy access to clean water and proper sanitation. As a result, unpurified water (over 50% of families in ICM areas don’t...
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017 at 3:38 pm
‘Crooked Arm’ was the name Kim-kim’s classmates called him in the schoolyard. It was an unsurprising nickname – the six-year old’s dislocated elbow hung at an obvious and uncomfortable angle. The bullying didn’t stop with name calling; unable to defend himself, Kim-kim was pushed around and roughed up in the schoolyard as well. It got...
Monday, March 13th, 2017 at 9:46 am
The world celebrates International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8. Empowering women to address social, economic and political challenges remains a goal of the United Nations. Alongside a full respect for human rights, women need to be seen as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, and security. Approximately 97% of ICM’s Transform participants are...
Wednesday, March 8th, 2017 at 10:45 am
“I realized you have changed, so I should change too.” When Rexmar spoke these words to his wife Diana, she realised the lessons she had learned had affected more than her mind and heart. Diana’s personal motivation earned her a spot in ICM’s Transform program. When she overheard a pastor inviting a neighbor to attend the...
Sunday, February 5th, 2017 at 10:09 pm
Life is tough for Maricel. Her family lives in ultra poverty. Maricel and her husband are rice field laborers and earn a combined monthly income of US$22.22/PHP1,000, well under what is needed to provide for their family of four. Maricel didn’t graduate from elementary school – her parents had been unable to pay for her...
Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 at 9:28 pm
In 2016, we celebrated the graduation of our 750,000th Transform family member. Her name is Mary Sunshine and her story is told in this video: Mary Sunshine and her family live in ultrapoverty. Mary Sunshine’s husband, Ryan, earns about US$34.88 (PHP 1,500) per week working with tires, not nearly enough to look after the small family’s financial needs....
Monday, January 9th, 2017 at 3:37 pm
Life was chaotic for Meraluna. Pregnant, with four children, a husband, sister and nephew to support, the tiny weekly income (US$3/PHP150) she earned washing people’s clothes didn’t begin to cover the family’s expenses. Desperate, the overworked Meraluna did what most people in her community did in hopes of earning money – she placed bets on...
Wednesday, January 4th, 2017 at 10:57 am
Many wishes for a wonderful Christmas from your friends at ICM!
Sunday, December 25th, 2016 at 11:33 am
“Please help our child receive surgery. We want her to grow up normally, become happy and be successful in the future.” This was Jonamie and Jeperlito’s plea for their three-year-old daughter, Jasmine. Jasmine appeared to be a healthy seven-month-old until one day she began to vomit uncontrollably. Her parents rushed Jasmine to the hospital...
Wednesday, December 21st, 2016 at 12:56 am
Amie wasn’t convinced that attending an ICM Transform program would benefit her. She expected the Transform program to be filled with a few ineffective lectures and a bit of cash distribution and to have no lasting worth. After starting the Transform program, Amie’s early fears were proved wrong and she realized her perspective and attitude...
Friday, December 2nd, 2016 at 6:37 pm