Let's help these disabled family members living in poverty

Hello everyone,

My name is Robert Bitzer, a Canadian.

I'm the managing director of the non profit Rose CGI. I, along with my team of volunteers monitor and assist the situation on the island. Since the island is totally dependent on tourism for jobs, and with tourists having been locked out for one and a half years, the locals are suffering badly. We, as an organization, try our best managing the distribution of food aid and other essentials, however we unfortunately, just don't have the budget to focus on one person or family.

JOSEPHINE ESPANOLA, a PWD (person with disability) and a MOTHER of a PWD son.

During the COVID pandemic, it's hard for all of us, but can you imagine the added difficulties of living in poverty with a disability? Such is the case of Josephine and her family on the island of Boracay in the Philippines.

Josephine and her family are one case. We hope to raise enough funds to repair the family's dilapidated house. Josephine has a long term physical impairment. She has an inborn right arm, and her right leg and foot are disabled, making it a struggle for her to walk and work.

Fondly called Jo by neighbors and friends, she tries hard to keep the family together. Her son is deaf. She has never had the resources for her son to attend a school for the deaf. Her husband, who works as a porter at the jetty port, earns a maximum of $2.00 day and Jo sells fish while her children look after their small basic goods store. Her eldest daughter is 18 years old and her youngest is 5 years old.

Their home is a 20 sqm ramshackle room with no electricity, no water and no toilet.

Their poor housing leads to mental health issues as manifested in their eldest daughter who attempted suicide to escape such a life. Their inadequate and unsanitary living conditions contributes to the spread of diseases (that is only second to COVID) and causes need for hospitalizations and medications they cannot afford most of the time. This prevents them from working to earn their daily living. The dire living conditions are threats to the well-being of the whole family.

Hopefully, with your kind support we can help one such family in need.

Thank you all, and I pledge to oversee the funds are used to improve Josephine and her family's home conditions. I'll post a follow up on Rose CGI social media. Please find us at :

Website: www.rosecgi.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseCgi/

I would be happy if you could use the [Help by sharing] button to share about my project