Saints of Compassion:
Mother Joan of the Philippines

In a small city in the Philippines CHRF works with a league of extraordinary Nuns (the Order of the Missionaries for the Poor), lead by Mother Joan Claire, long time friend of CHRF. Mother Joan’s heart is for the poor and disadvantaged, that is why for years she has been single handedly organized the Nun’s projects in Naga City where they seek out the local orphans and children whom have turned to the trash of the city to scavenge for food (literally digging in the dumps).

Mother Joan and her dedicated order of sisters have not only set up a great feeding program at these dumps in Naga City but also oversee an orphanage for abused and abandoned children that in many cases would have died in the dumps, on the streets or in gutters if not for Mother Joan and her order of Amazing and dedicated Nuns.

In 2011 Children’s Hunger Relief Fund responded to Mother Joan’s need for help after the orphanage was damaged after the Typhoons that washed across most of the Philippines. Thankfully we are happy to report Mother Joan and her band of nuns are back to full operation and are on their way of saving more lives in 2012. Thanks to the many CHRF donors we were able to stretch the value of your gifts and provide Mother Joan with six million dollars worth of aid and medicine!

Recently, a team of CHRF executives went to visit Mother Joan in Naga City where she currently is running the orphanage and local feeding program for hundreds of children.

Philippine GDP grew just under 1% in 2009 but the economy weathered the 2008-09 global recession better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to securities issued by troubled global financial institutions; lower dependence on exports; relatively resilient domestic consumption, supported by large remittances from four-to five-million overseas Filipino workers; and a growing business process outsourcing industry. Economic growth in the Philippines has averaged 4.5% per year since 2001, when President MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took office. Despite this growth, poverty worsened during the term of MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, because of a high population growth rate and inequitable distribution of income. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO averted a fiscal crisis by pushing for new revenue measures and, until recently, tightening expenditures to address the government's yawning budget deficit and to reduce high debt and debt service ratios. But the government abandoned its 2008 balanced-budget goal in order to help the economy weather the global financial and economic storm. The economy faces several long term challenges. The Philippines must maintain the reform momentum in order to catch up with regional competitors, boost trade, alleviate poverty, and improve employment opportunities and infrastructure. Inadequate tax revenues could limit the government's ability to address these issues.

When asked about the project after the recent visit, a long time CHRF board member responded, “Our first stop was to the Garbage Dump outside Naga City, where a town has emerged filled with people who barely make $2 a day. Here, Mother Joan reaches out to the children, offering them food, medicines, vitamins, and other aid so as to demonstrate the love of God. She is an amazing woman and a great role model for not only her Order of nuns (Sisters for the Poor), not just for the entire local community but is an amazing role model for the world! It’s an honor and a blessing to be able to work with and support such great people do great things for others. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the amazing support of our CHRF Staff and Donors.”

No matter what your involvement, reading the blog, exploring the CHRF website, praying for the children, or donating to the cause, we Thank You for your support and interest in the cause to alleviate hunger around the world! Continuing on the same mission CHRF has dedicated itself to since 1975, Changing the World One Child at a Time!