Impact Philippines Becomes New ITCA Program

International Teams is pleased to announce the formation of a new program, Impact Philippines. Led by native Filipino, Andy Busa, this program develops and empowers homeless street children, youth with addictions, and marginalized families to become productive members of society.

In partnership with a local church, Impact Philippines will work with the desperately poor building relationships, encouraging literacy, promoting hygiene and nutrition, establishing income-generating projects and facilitating drop-in centres.

With 80% of the population surviving on less than $2 per day, the average Filipino lives in desperate poverty. Impact Philippines initiates projects that build self-esteem and create hope for children and families who would otherwise despair.

“I believe that Impact Philippines will make a big difference to the urban poor,” said Andy Busa, “because our projects are designed to promote empowerment and self-reliance. Not only are we helping alleviate poverty but we are also emphasizing the spiritual and social transformation of Filipinos in order to encourage them to become productive contributors to their communities.”

In the Cavite City dumpsite, for example, where 1000 people make their living scrounging through the refuse, International Teams feeds children and offers a literacy program. Women may join a sewing class so that they may become more employable.

“My goal is to partner with churches and other organizations in Canada so that together we can help build the lives of marginalized Filipinos who are living in the most economically depressed communities in the country.”

Tragedy in the Philippines

A typhoon recently ripped through the Philippines - devastating the city of Manila by bringing over a month's worth of rain in 12 hours. Some have reported that it is the worst flooding in 50 years.

Our International Teams (ITeams) Philippines National Leader, Pastor Gani, reports the following:

"The floods have subsided but our house looks like a wreck. We have lost all of our appliances and personal belongings. Tons of 'precious garbage' are piling up but the garbage trucks are not coming... What was painful was seeing my cabinet of memorabilia washed up. All my preaching outlines and manuscripts for the past 20 years are gone. My prayer journals that contain a detailed list of my personal prayers and ANSWERS to prayers (details of miracles) were destroyed. Even legal documents were not spared... Fortunately our family is safe and we feel blessed that we have been spared from a possible bigger disaster. But our hearts are broken for the plight of many of our people who lost more from this calamity."

Many of our co-workers have suffered significant property damage. Therefore, we want to respond in their time of urgent need!

We have opened a PHILIPPINES EMERGENCY RELIEF fund to help ITeams workers in the Philippines. All donations will be sent to our ITeams Philippines office, where Pastor Gani and his team will quickly direct funds to those in need.

So many people are desperate for help. Would you be willing to help Pastor Gani begin a new chapter in his prayer journal by being an ANSWER to prayer? We may not be able to prevent such natural disasters, but together we can help alleviate the suffering they cause.

You can help by:

• Giving a gift to our PHILIPPINES EMERGENCY RELIEF fund
• Praying for our friends and fellow laborers in Manila as they reach out to many while dealing with loss in their own lives
• Spread the word about this opportunity to help by forwarding on this email