LDS Charities Humanitarian Projects Summary for 2012

LDS Charities (LDSC), the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was humming with activity during 2012. Five major global initiatives direct the work of this organization. They include: Vision Care, Neonatal Resuscitation Training, Wheelchairs – training and distribution, Clean Water, and Food Production & Nutrition.  With the onslaught of Habagat and Typhoon Pablo (Bopha), LDSC immediately responded to the emergency.  In these desperate circumstances, quick response is often the difference between life and death. 

Elder Michael U. Teh, Philippine Area President of the Church agrees that, “After urgent needs are met, the Church looks for additional ways to help with the long-term needs of a community. The Church’s approach is to help people become self-reliant by teaching skills and providing resources for a self-sustained life.”

Global Initiatives

Several projects were completed in 2012.

•    First was the Vision Project in Santiago, Isabela.  Mabuhay Deseret Foundation partnered with LDSC to bring treatment, equipment and supplies to those in need of cataract surgery. Over 650 persons benefited from this project in the first six months. More patients will continue to be helped as many surgeries are done monthly at no cost to the person.  The project cost in PHP was 3,400,340.

•    A Vision Project was done in Cebu in partnership with Mabuhay Deseret Foundation and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. Professionals received training in oculoplastics. Patients numbering 3,330 received treatment through the initial Church-sponsored implementation trip. The project cost in PHP was 2,372,297.

•    Neonatal resuscitation training was completed in Manila and Davao. Almost ten percent of all babies born experience difficulty breathing at birth. One million babies die worldwide without neonatal resuscitation. LDSC partnered with the Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine where 461 physicians and nurses were trained. This number does not represent the numerous babies that will be saved because of the quick resuscitation provided by trained personnel. The training includes the needed equipment, practice doll, bagging device which inflates the lungs and suction equipment. The project cost in PHP was 2,649,920.

•    The next area is wheelchair and technician training. There were 356 people trained to be able to ensure that each recipient of a wheelchair is properly fitted to the appropriate chair that meets their individual needs. These trainings were partnered with Rotary International and Katipunang May Kapansanan sa Philippines (Kampi), NCDA, DSWD and Philippine Marines. LDSC distributed 3,812 wheelchairs during 2012. The project cost in PHP was 5,106,055.

•    LDSC completed an additional project, 2012 Pacific Partnership, with the US Navy in Samar. The USNS Mercy provided short-term specialists and volunteers to help with community projects. Donated medical, dental, and other humanitarian supplies were given to the community. It was estimated that almost 49,500 people benefited from this mission. The project cost inPHP was 6,375,107  

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There were several ongoing projects that were continued from 2011.

•    Three water projects are continuing. In partnership with A Single Drop for Safe Water, the Sagada project is on hold until the source of water can be settled.  The Digkilian Barangay project in Iligan City is working to repair existing water systems and community through PODS training. The third project is Almeria, in Biliran. This project will provide water for almost 2,000 households. These projects depend heavily upon the people who are to receive the water. They must be committed to help in the project. The project cost in PHP is 14,616,893

Bro. Misalucha commented about the need of having people in each barangay become involved. He said, “Generally where people help themselves, where they have to work for it, it takes a long time and they solve their own problems. They use their gifts of agency and promptings. Then miracles happen.”

Three global initiatives from 2012 will continue in 2013.

•    Vision Project Philippines is an initiative in partnership with Mabuhay Deseret Foundation. Sixty professionals will receive training in oculoplastics. 1,850 patients will benefit from treatment, equipment and supplies during the first six months following the project implementation trip. This is scheduled for late April or May. The project cost in PHP is 4,935,907.

•    Neonatal resuscitation training will also move forward in Iloilo City with a training planned for April. LDSC plans to provide physicians and nurses with training. This year midwives will also receive training for the first time. The goal is to train more than 460 providers in partnership with the Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine. The project cost in PHP is 1,660,270.

•    The training of wheelchair technicians and the distribution of wheelchairs also will continue. There are projects underway in 12 different locations in the country. LDSC partners with Rotary, Kampi, Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy (AKAP-Pinoy) and National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), DSWD and Philippine Marines. The goal is to distribute 7,000 wheelchairs this year and to train more technicians who will assess and fit those in need of wheelchairs. The project cost in PHP is 12,877,525.

Benson Misalucha, the Area Welfare Services Manager, shared details for projects which involve LDSC. When asked who benefits from projects done by them, he said, “Even where no church members are involved, LDSC crosses religious boundaries to help where there is a need.” Bro. Misalucha went on to explain that money for these projects is donated  “not by the rich, but ordinary people across the world” who want to help. One hundred percent of all money donated is given to the worldwide initiatives and the Church takes care of administrative costs.

Misalucha also added that in addition to the global initiatives, LDS Charities granted a special for Iligan and Cagayan de Oro City.  LDSC partnered with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in buidling 700 units of transition shelters and permanent homes.  LDSC funded the building materials while CRS handled the labor cost and implementation.  The project cost in PHP was 14,350,000.

Area Initiatives

LDS Charities in the Philippines have also completed eight Area Initiative projects in 2012. These are different from the global initiatives because they originated here and pertain only to this country.

•    LDSC donated PHP 1,025,000 worth of computers to provide skills training for over 680 persons with disabilities. This was done in Mandaluyong City where they partnered with the Nova Foundation, Inc. LDSC also partnered with the Municipality of Bato, Leyte to provide hand pumps so that 1,200 people could enjoy potable water in the mountainous barangays. The project cost in PHP was1,036,100.

•    After the fire in Zambales, LDSC partnered with the  Department of Social Welfare and Development  (DSWD) to provide emergency supplies for 273 families who were survivors of the fire. The project cost in PHP was 15,000.

•    In Consolacion, Cebu, LDSC partnered with Barangay Tugbongan to supply medicines for a medical mission where about 600 people were cared for. During the Medical/Dental Mission in Patikul, Sulu, in connection with the Philippine Marines, LDSC gave medicines that benefited 1,119 patients. The project cost in PHP was 45,095.

•    TV 5 partnered with LDSC to donate school supplies for Cagayan De Oro, Iligan, and Zamboanga. These areas were hardest hit by Typhoon Sendong and school kits were given to 5,947 students and teachers who are still recovering from the 2011 typhoon. The project cost in PHP was 1,000,450.

•    LDSC partnered with the Area Public Affairs department to print 2,000 copies of the Family Enrichment Manuals. At least 3,600 people have benefited thus far. The project cost in PHP was 174,000.
 
•    The last completed Area project in 2012 for LDSC was in coordination with the Area Public Affairs Department. Nine weighing scales were donated to nine different Barangay in Urdaneta so the children could be weighed accurately to find if they were receiving the nutrition they need. 5, 200 children will be affected by this gift. The project cost in PHP was108,000.

LDSC is still working on one carry over project from the Area Initiatives. This is the donation of medicine to PMAP Medical Outreach in Balingasag. This mission in Cagayan De Oro is ongoing and will help 1,000 people. The project cost in PHP is 30,000.

 Benson Misalucha ended the interview with the comment, “The Church invests in people. Ownership and leadership is the key to sustainability for projects. When it is the right person, the leader makes things happen.”

Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS Charities is an application of the admonition of Jesus Christ to help others in need. Jesus Christ taught His followers to give meat to the hungry and drink to those who thirst. His is a gospel that includes taking in the stranger, loving neighbors as self, and visiting those who are sick or imprisoned. He taught that we are to love and care for each other, visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and lift up those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble.