More than a dream, this project is my passion, a calling, and an opportunity for me to use my voice and the platform that God has given me to help the lives of children who are underprivileged.

My name is Imee, and I was born in the Philippines, where I witnessed and experienced the daily hardships that so many Filipino families face. With the blessing of God, my family was able to move to Australia, which has given me safety, possibilities and support. But every time I visited my hometown, I became more and more aware of my privilege of being given a better life, but others, especially children, are not as fortunate.

Fate or luck, I still can’t understand why some people are lucky enough to have the chance to live a good life, and others aren’t.

At 21 years old, I pursued my dream of travelling to my hometown alone and visiting an orphanage. There, I met a few incredible and bright children who didn’t have parents and listened to their dreams and hopes for their futures. With my savings, I donated as much as I could. I will never forget the impression the experience had on me.

Now at 23 years old, I was presented with an opportunity and a platform through my involvement with a pageant to have a bigger voice. This blessing holds great responsibility and is for the greater good rather than for myself. The goal of the fundraiser is to support the children, specifically for my chosen charity, The House of Angels in the Philippines, where we can give them resources, love and hope.

However, this is not intended to be a one off gesture. I really believe that every child born should have the opportunity to live a life that is comfortable, receive a quality education, and have the possibility to pursue their dreams in the future. With your help, whether in the form of donations, offering your support or helping me spread the word about this, you can help create something greater than you and I. By working together, we can bring lasting change and provide these kids with the opportunity to have the future they deserve and belong to.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone for reading and participating in this cause and helping me turn this passion into action.