Posts by Louise Joachimowski
Mary Sunshine – ICM’s 750,000 Transform Graduate
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.…
Read MoreNow They Are Smiling
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…
Read MoreMerry Christmas, Sing-daan Fai Lo, Maligayang Pasko!
Many wishes for a wonderful Christmas from your friends at ICM!
Read MoreA Blooming Flower
“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…
Read MoreHidden Assets
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…
Read MoreA Gift from Afar
Over 7,000 Christmas presents are headed to children in ICM programs, thanks to Hong Kong charity Box of Hope. Box of Hope is an annual charity project aimed at providing useful/educational gifts to underprivileged children in Hong Kong & Asia donated by Hong Kong school children and local organisations. Founded by Nicole Woolhouse and Harriet…
Read MoreICM Trainers Reach Indigenous Villages by Horseback
Report by Bernard Bocado, ICM GenSan CO // Text by Erica Gurdiel-Etbew, ICM Junior Editor, and Meng Valientes, ICM Senior Editor Despite modern technology, the partnership between man and animal will continue to be effective; Policemen have dogs, farmers have cows, shepherds have sheep and in the case of our ICM General Santos Trainers, they…
Read MoreWith Your Help, Lolita Starts Again
If you visit what’s left of the village where Lolita lives, you will find her scrounging through the debris of her former garden, looking for seeds to start again. The water that swept over her village that fateful day in November washed away her entire life—her home, garden and her small vegetable shop. She…
Read MoreShining Hope into Bohol This New Year
Report contribution from ICM Communications Team Val Jovani Canda, Lily Grace Talaban & Meng Valientes After the catastrophic 7.2 magnitude earthquake in October, Bohol is beginning to get back on its feet. To assist the recovery, ICM is on a special mission to eliminating darkness for the poor. Around the island, school classes are seen…
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