New Dorm – Maasin

Faith Chapel Volunteers from Billings, Montana transform abandoned building into a home for deaf children. Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Philippines, August 21, 2011 Hundreds of deaf children live in isolation in the mountains of Southern Leyte with no chance for an education because of distance and economics.  There is only one practical solution to providing them schooling and that is …

New Low Cost Cooking Stoves

FIRST BATCH OF MAYON STOVES July 5, 2011 Perla Manapol (pictured at the left) is the president of an organization known as Sustainable Rural Enterprises based in Aklan, Philippines.  Her fervour to help the poor and at the same time helping the environment is contagious.  She initially infected Ambassador Benny Tan (pictured on the right) with the concept of stoves …

Quiet Road to Success

Jimmy and Rezel with Jimmy Junior If ever there was a story that could remind us of why IDEA exists, it would be that of Jimmy & Rezel. Today they are a happy, loving couple with a handsome baby boy. They are employed, financially independent, educated, confident in their decisions, and decided on their ambitions. It hasn’t always been like …

Peanut Butter and Business

Celine, Bohol Deaf Academy’s entrepreneur teacher, recently helped the students come up with a truly home made product.  With absolutely no machinery, the kids turn out a creamy style peanut butter that beats the store bought kind.  Now the students are in the process of learning how to market this new product.  The student can use this new skill to …

Waiting for his Turn…

By: Francis and Laura Mallorca IDEA: Southern Leyte, Philiippines Seven year old Peljune lives with his aging parents and sister in the mountains above Maasin City, Southern Leyte and the city’s SpEd center.  IDEA’s transportation allowance is enough for the boy’s fare to and from class, but the extremely rough road makes the trip twice daily nearly impossible.  Even if …

Adventure in Bohol

ADVENTURE IN BOHOL Adventure Church team with teachers and students at Loon Central Elementary School, Bohol Philippines The youth from Adventure Community Church in Duvall Washington came to Bohol this past July.  Shortly after the team arrived in Tagbilaran, they were asked what their expectations for the trip were.  They responded that they only wanted to serve and were open …