Service Trip to the Philippines

This February, I will be traveling to the Philippines for a two-month long volunteer trip, and I need your help! I will be working with an organization called Volunteer for the Visayans (VFV) where I will be serving at a women’s shelter they have partnered with. The women they serve have suffered through a great deal of trauma including domestic abuse, trafficking, and abandonment. These women have been referred to the shelter by the court and have been placed there for safety and rehabilitative purposes.

Because the organization is non-profit, they are severely understaffed and are unable to give the proper attention to the people they serve. VFV relies heavily on volunteers to help out in all of their programs, and that is what I hope to do. At the women's shelter in Tacloban, I will be assisting the social services staff in the shelter’s day-to-day activities as well as have the opportunity to conduct empowerment activities for livelihood and skills training.

This trip is very near to my heart as I am applying for graduate school in hopes of receiving a Masters degree in social work. My service in Tacloban will allow me to experience the work I one day hope to do. I wish to be a clinical social worker that serves women and children who have experienced trauma, just as the women in the shelter have. By helping me raise funds for this trip, you will allow me the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life as well as gain experience for my future career.

The funds we raise here will go solely toward airfare, personal expenses for food and daily necessities, and the VFV program fee. Any amount raised above the fundraising goal will go directly to the organization. Below is what the VFV program fee covers according to their website:

Accommodating Volunteers: 40% of our program fee is spent back on providing the resources to accommodate volunteers; this includes the payment of homestays, the arrangement of airport pick ups, excursions and orientation expenses.

Community Disaster & Healthcare Relief: 5% of program fees contribute to our annual healthcare relief medical missions and to our emergency disaster relief fund.

Community Empowerment Projects: 5% of funding contributes towards our local client group projects, community restoration and Adopt-A-School project

Local Volunteers: 5% of our program fee compensates for a transportation allowance and a small honorarium to low-income, local volunteers.

Build-A-Home/Build-A-School: 5% of the fee Contributes to the Build-A-Home and Build-A-School programs, to supplement private donations

Scholarship Program: 10% of the program fee contributes to our scholarship program, which enables deserving members of our Boys and Girls Clubs to pursue a college education or vocational training. (Note: Some children receive help with post-high school education/training needs from their sponsors, who choose to continue sponsorship.)

Administrative Costs: 20% of the program covers our administrative costs, such as paying the salaries of our local staff as well as the utilities for our community center (electricity, water, internet) which is used daily by our project dependent clients.

Dumpsite Project: 10% of the program fee contributes towards our dumpsite project, our flagship outreach project that rehabilitates children working or previously working in the Tacloban City Dumpsite by enrolling them in school.


If you are in a position to give, any amount helps. No donation is too small and as a sponsor, you will receive updates on my trip. Please join me in helping VFV and the women they serve!


Thank you for your support!

Jen Tanglao