Hello From Manila – Day One

An article by Frank    No Comments

Right now we have an Insight Tour in the Philippines. Occassionaly the team will be updating us on how the trip is going. This was written by Jane Laurie (TEAR Fund Regional Co-Ordinator).

Day One

How do I begin to explain our day – it was certainly action packed.We have seen some amazing projects with CCT (Center for Community Transformation) and met with such dedicated staff. This morning we visited a couple of Micro enterprise fellowship groups and all of us came away so inspired. Then this afternoon we visited Kaibigan – the street dwellers programme and it was such an honour to spend time with 200 Kaibigan at their feeding programme.

I have asked the team for words to describe their day:
pumping (busy, bursting at the seems with people and traffic)
frightening (the level of poverty)
seeing the reality of transformation
hot and sweaty
amazing hospitality
huge respect for TEAR Funds partner, CCT
curiosity
exhausting
motivational / inspiring
challenging
tired
cute kids
great food
Hope
Dignity

…and thats just after one day!!!

To be honest it has been a long day – we left our accommodation at 6.30 this morning and got back at about 5.30pm, had a team debrief, dinner and now its 9pm. There is a lot for us to think about and process.

Tomorrow is another day visiting with CCT and I am sure we will be just as inspired.

As I said it has only been day one and all of the team have said the trip has been sooooo worth it. As one member said “we have heard about and read about the work of TEAR Funds partners, we have seen DVD’s but now we have eye witness personal experience. We have met people whose lives have been transformed”

Will catch up again over the weekend. Til then, love from the team.

Mama Jane

Note: If you would like to take part in a TEAR Fund Insight Tour or find out more information click here.

Image: Manila slum. Creator: Chuck Bigger. Copright: Compassion International.