The Gratitude Fund – Philippines

In the Philippines, roughly 4.5 million people are homeless. The rising costs of construction materials along with basic commodities prevents several households to have a space they can call their home.

The Gratitude Fund supports the efforts of several organisations to address this need, including the SVD Lay Mission Partners (LAMP) in Bohol, Philippines.

In partnership with the Diocese of Talibon, who contributed countless hours of volunteer work to make the dream of a widowed mother, Angeline Espiritu, and her three children, to have a permanent home, a reality. The house, though small and unfurnished, represents a fresh start and a renewed sense of hope for the family.

During the turnover, the SVD LaMP provided the family with a bag of rice, groceries, and a small amount for Angeline to start a livelihood. The children’s faces lit up as they explored their new space, and Angeline expressed her gratitude with a simple yet heartfelt “daghang salamat ninyo.”