Tag: Transform

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...

Unemployed, with children to care for, Cleta believed that Transform could change her life. From the first lesson, she saw the benefits that the useful and practical lessons brought to her family. Soon after the Transform program began,  Cleta was in a motorcycle accident and badly injured her foot. Despite her pain, she still attended lessons....

Florlyn Reyes relied on her husband, a tricycle driver who earns around US$3.21 (PHP150) a day, to provide for the family. His income was not sufficient to meet the needs of their family of five, which created tension, arguments and resentment between the couple. When Florlyn heard about ICM’s Transform program, she was excited and...

When ICM found five-year-old Eugene, it was obvious that something was wrong. In June 2015, Eugene’s spine had curved into a hunchback shape and the next month he developed a bad cough. After they had exhausted their finances and treatment options at the provincial hospital under government care, Eugene’s parents could only remain in their...

Four-year-old Gebalyn was sent home from school because of the open sores on her head. Gebalyn’s mother, Maria Theresa was worried. The wounds grew and began bleeding. Gebalyn was in near constant pain and crying. Her appetite left her and she grew weak.  There wasn’t enough money to see a doctor, but the day Gebalyn...

A newly launched, 17-month landmark project between International Care Ministries (ICM) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will help people living in ultrapoverty in the Province of Iloilo. A launch ceremony October 30th, attended by Philippine and U.S. officials marked the beginning of the project, which will affect approximately 10,000 people. The...

Virginia, 40, has lived with feelings of resentment and hopelessness ever since her husband’s souvenir business went bankrupt many years ago. When cheaper, lower qualtity products from China flooded the market, Nicanor’s  business simply could not compete with their low prices, despite the high quality of his merchandise. Eventually Nicanor lost his customers and had...

Last March, after completing ICM’s Transform program, 14 ladies formed the Tubtubon Savings Group. Initially, the ladies each contributed 20 pesos per week.  After two months they had enough money to purchase the item they chose to sell – detergent. Each member of the Savings Group took turns selling the detergent. Although they were able...

Poverty is a far deeper issue than a lack of physical necessities. It is the profound sense of perceived helplessness in the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual relationship a person has with their environment. For this reason, truly helping someone out of poverty means changing the way they see themselves and the world around them....

Lisa, 29, lives with her partner and four young children in a small house built of scrap metal and wood with no electricity or toilet. Growing up, Lisa’s mother had five husbands and a gambling addiction. At 12 years of age, Lisa left home for Manila to work as a housemaid. At 13-years-old she fell...