As we join delegates at the JCI World Congress, we’re calling on supporters here in Taiwan and back home in the UK and Ireland to stand with Ten Foundations in a time of crisis. We recently spent a week on the ground with Ten Foundations in the Philippines, witnessing firsthand how Typhoon Kristine has devastated families and communities in need.

Ten Foundations is a charity dedicated to creating sustainable change through livelihood programmes that empower local communities. Teaching women how to sew, they are able to produce backpacks that are then sold in Northern Ireland, teaching women essential skills that allows them to sustain their own liveihoods. These programmes, led by women (mostly mothers) from impoverished communities, give individuals the skills and support to lift themselves out of poverty. This is more than charity; it’s about equipping people to build resilient lives and communities, including the Ten Foundations housing project which allows for these women to live in a sustainable house where they don't need to worry about the impact of up to 20 Typhoons a year.

In the wake of Typhoon Kristine, many of the families in our programmes have seen their hard-won progress set back. Homes have been destroyed, left without power, running water, mobile signal and essential supplies are scarce. The need for immediate assistance is urgent. Ten Foundations is committed to supporting these communities in the long run, but they need our help now to make an immediate impact.