For Poly, humanitarian work began from the ground up. Starting as a volunteer in a conflict-affected area, he was introduced to peacebuilding, WASH, and emergency response, experiences that showed him the power of standing alongside communities as they recover from crisis. What started as volunteer service eventually became a lifelong commitment to helping people rebuild […]
For Engel, the path to humanitarian work began in college, when he helped vulnerable families repair their homes as a Civil Engineering student. The experience showed him how he could use his profession to directly help people in need. Today, as a WASH Engineer with Action Against Hunger, Engel works with communities affected by disasters […]
GLAN, Sarangani ─ As she has done for the past 32 years of working in public service, Glenda Hizoler, General Manager of the Glan Water District, was on her way to the office on the morning the magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Municipality of Glan. Having dedicated the past decades to the Glan Water District, including the last eight years as General Manager, she understood […]
Over the past four years, Aries has worked across emergency responses in Bohol, Abra, Davao de Oro, and most recently Sarangani, bringing his experience in mental health and psychosocial support to communities affected by disasters and displacement. As an MHPSS Field Officer with Action Against Hunger, Aries works with children, young people, families, and communities […]
For Nor-Ain, becoming a humanitarian worker was not part of the original plan. Growing up in a conflict-affected community, she witnessed firsthand how displacement, lost livelihoods, and limited access to basic services affected families. Her journey began through youth training, peacebuilding, and gender advocacy, where working directly with communities helped her discover a deeper sense […]
For the past two and a half years, Sonie has been deployed to multiple emergency responses each year, often leaving at short notice to support communities affected by disasters. But beyond the emergencies she has responded to, it is the connections she builds along the way that make Sonie a familiar face to many of […]
Across the cities of Zamboanga and Malabon, communities are already seeing the results of their efforts to restore ecosystems, improve waste management, and strengthen resilience through the EARTH project. Through community-led action, residents are restoring mangroves, testing innovative nature-based solutions, strengthening waste management systems, and working together through community savings groups. From the waterways of […]
The last time she experienced an earthquake of this scale was in the early years of her marriage. Today, Domana Sagli is 83 years old and the eldest in a household shared by four families, including many of her grandchildren. Since the earthquake struck Sarangani, she has not been able to sleep. With limited mobility, […]
In the quiet mornings of Barangay Adaon in the Municipality of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, life begins before sunrise. For many parents in the community, every day begins with the same hope: that their children will grow up healthy, strong, and able to pursue brighter futures. For Alima “Lengs” Zacaria, a 36-year-old mother of three, that […]
