Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In April I am going to the Philippines for 3 months on a VSO ICS volunteering project. I will be working alongside volunteers from the Philippines on a project in an area that was devastated by the typhoons in 2013 and 2014. The aim is to work with the local community, half of whom are living under the poverty line, to help develop sustainable farming and fishing practices to stop the ongoing devastation of the local environment and improve the quality of life of those currently living in poverty. 

VSO ICS works with communities that have specifically requested their help. It also aims to inspire young people in the UK and overseas to become active citizens who are passionate about long term community development.

Before I go, I need to raise £1500 for the charity to help fund future development programmes, raise awareness of the charity and encourage more young people to volunteer abroad. 

You can check out their amazing work here http://www.vso.org.uk/volunteer/opportunities/vso-ics-for-18-25-year-olds

I will keep this page up to date about the fundraising activities that I will be doing to help to raise this money. In the meantime, any contribution that you can donate towards this amazing charity will make a real difference to the lives of people in developing countries, so please dig deep!

Thanks for your support!

I will be going an area called the Carood watershed on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. Here is some more specific information about the project that I will be volunteering with there and what it hopes to achieve:

Poverty incidence in the Carood watershed communities ranges from 45% to 57%. Faced with severe economic pressures, local people resort to environmentally destructive activities to earn a quick income and meet their basic needs. Though these provide much needed income in the short- term, continuation of such practice will result to unproductive farms, lesser fish catch, and more severe flooding and landslide; and prove detrimental to both people and environment in the long-term. The project will engage young people in changing environmental perspective, behaviour, and practice to ensure sustainable management of Carood watershed resources for the benefit of present and future generations.