I have decided to start a fundraiser for my friend in the Phillipines, 'Hearty' - so called because her birthday is Valentines Day!

A week and a half, ago her house went on fire (along with 16 others in the village she lives in). She is the girl circled in the photo viewing the damage to her house and belongings. The bird's eye view photo is of her house ablaze.

She currently studies at the Phinma University of Iloilo of the Philippines. She is in 3rd Year. College is so expensive in the Philippines and she is being funded by her very hard-working aunt (also a friend).

In the fire, Hearty lost all of her books and medical uniforms. She is currently living with family.

Less than a week after this fire, her area was hit by a typhoon (satellite pic with smaller circle) and today (Saturday 8th Nov) the larger 'super typhoon' is about to hit land (satellite pic with larger typhoon).

Despite all this, on Tuesday (4th Nov) she sat her 'defense' (type of exam related to her thesis) and got the highest score in her class! Most of her grades are 1.0 — equivalent of 95 to 100%.

I will always value the importance of education in helping people make a better life for themselves and I am in awe of her being able to sit an exam in such difficult circumstances.

She is due to sit another exam on Monday (10th Nov) but it has been postponed due to the weather conditions.

I am committed to donating personally to help her but I just felt it was the right thing to share her story in the hope that others would be moved and help.

Thankyou for reading. Much appreciated.