Special Projects
Not everything we do can be easily placed in the category of community development. Building playgrounds, repairing or constructing homes that have been decimated by typhoons, passing out clothing after a volcanic eruption, rescuing or recovering fishermen lost at sea, stationing teams as volunteer community EMT units, and providing scholarships are special activities in which we are privileged to participate. Though we follow guidelines to ensure we do not create dependency or harm local efforts at community development, sometimes there are moments when the right thing to do doesn’t involve a rubric.
We are in love with building playgrounds! It takes a lot of coordination and support to build just one, let alone reaching our dream of putting up one hundred all over the world! Volunteers from the United States must partner with volunteers from a host country such as the Philippines. Not only must these partners work in unison to put the equipment together, they must figure out how to ship and receive containers, acquire access to public land, and process government permits. This endeavor builds close ties and relationships with all those involved. And when the finished project is a structure that will bring joy to children for years to come, everyone is happy. We believe that playgrounds can help develop minds, foster good social skills, bring peace in conflict areas, and lift up the morale of a community.
Humanitarian Aid and Relief Operations
Working in underserved communities means expecting and preparing for the devastating impact a calamity can have on people groups already experiencing hardship. Though our principals of self-sufficiency and sustainability guide our projects, there are times when we must lend a helping hand and provide relief goods and aid due to emergencies such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and pandemics. Though we are a small operation, we have been able to make a significant dent in this category because of partners who represent individuals, private organizations, and even government departments that are anxious to help.
