Posts by Louise Joachimowski
A Mother’s Awakening
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…
Read MoreA Long Stretch
‘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…
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day
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…
Read MoreHow C3 Saw More
ICM Trips are a fantastic way for people from all over the globe to get a sense of how ICM is changing lives. These trips are designed for all ages, with a range of different activities that encompass ICM’s many programs. We encourage everyone to “Come and see” and in 2016, hosted 47 trips. For…
Read MoreEducation & Assistance for Kian’s Family
Jennifer thought her ten-month-old son Kian James, was healthy. Kian’s father works on a farm, and his meagre income means the family often does not have enough food to eat. Still, Jennifer thought her son was growing and doing well. However Kian was exhibiting troubling indicators – his eyes were sunken, his skin was dry,…
Read MoreIt’s Contagious In A Good Way
“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…
Read MoreA New Reason To Smile
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…
Read MoreBen’s MAD Trip Urge
Yesterday, Shore Student Alex shared his thoughts on the school’s recent ‘Make A Difference’ trip to ICM’s Bacolod base. Today, fellow student Ben examines what the trip meant to him. Our thanks to both Alex and Ben for their insights and hard work. I distinctly recall the thoughts racing through my head as I boarded…
Read MoreAlex will never forget his MAD experience
Shore School students Ben and Alex and joined their school’s November 23 –Dec 1, 2016 ‘Making A Difference’ trip to ICM’s base in Bacolod, Philippines. This first blog contains Alex’s recollections of his first encounter with poverty, tomorrow’s blog will feature Ben’s reflections. My trip with ICM was one that I will never forget. Before…
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