Posts by Bernadette Tan
Transform: Starting With the Heart
ICM’s Transform program focuses on three key areas: Values, Health and Livelihood. While the Health and Livelihood components target the physical needs of participants, the Values component addresses the battles in their minds. Through the different lessons, ICM aims to help people overcome feelings of inferiority and passivity that hold them back from breaking out…
Read MoreTransform Through Life and Faith
Fernando is a single father of five children living in an urban slum in Bohol. His children range from 5 years old to 15 years old. He was first referred to join ICM’s programs by his cousin and upon hearing about Transform, he was immediately curious and excited. He has benefited from all the different…
Read MoreT’nalak Festival: A Colorful Celebration
Provinces in the Philippines have their own unique ways of celebrating their culture. For example, the South Cotabato province has a big celebration every year known as T’nalak Festival. Every July, the festival is a week-long celebration held in Koronadal City, the capital of South Cotabato. The festival gets its name from “t’nalak,” a colorful…
Read MoreGetting REDI for Typhoon Mangkhut!
Five years ago when Typhoon Haiyan (known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines) struck the Philippines, it left a path of death and destruction. ICM was able to act immediately thanks to pre-positioned food stored in our bases. We were able to deliver millions of meals to affected communities while international agencies waited for their…
Read MoreStrive to Thrive
At the heart of all that ICM does is the dedication and passion of local pastors who love and serve the poor in their communities. In order to encourage, equip and empower these pastors, ICM started the Thrive pastor network! The Thrive pastor network exists to strengthen and equip ICM’s partner pastors for more effective,…
Read MoreThe Power of VHL
“Every day is not a harvest day. Where could I get financial help to meet our daily needs?” This is a question that Criselda asked when she looked at her family and the growing needs. The weight of her family fell upon her shoulders when her husband suddenly passed away from heatstroke during a harvest…
Read MoreBiBs Unveiled: Banana Cakes
Every week, ICM trainers bring training and fun into ultrapoor communities all over Mindanao and the Visayas. Product creation is one aspect of the training. Participants take a look at thirty product options and vote to pick the five most popular products. This ensures that the products we teach will be well-received in different areas.…
Read MoreHello Halo-Halo!
As a tropical country, the Philippines usually enjoys a sunny climate most days of the year. Thanks to Mr. Sun, Filipinos have thought of many ways to beat the scorching heat. Head to the beach, dive into the pool or dip your spoon into a flavorful mound of halo-halo. What is halo-halo? It’s the ultimate…
Read MoreAnd Livelihood Is…
…how you make a living! And that’s not easy! Most ultrapoor families struggle with even keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads. Things like buying medicine, sending children to school and paying for electricity are difficult, if not impossible. In Transform’s Livelihood lessons, trainers teach the participants how to bring in…
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