Kirribilli House 27

Hi All,

Another house done, our 6th since the big storm.

Special thanks to an architect friend of mine back on the island, Lucino Tagab, who lately has voluntarily been looking after our housing projects and needless to say, pretty good at it. Gabs, thank you. Your work is deeply appreciated.

Once again I thank you all for your support and your generosity.

Ruben

It has been unseasonably very wet, so the clothes drying under the eaves is a welcome sight. So are the potted plants at the front. I love the pots! A closer look and the one to the left is a cooking pot in its previous life, the middle is a water container cut in half, and to the right is a reincarnated plastic washing basin. Resilience is making do with things.

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Storm/Covid Relief Update

Hi All,

We strive to give hope and make a difference to people’s lives, so we are continuing on with what we can to give people a little respite from their struggles just to simply acquire the very basic necessities of living. Thanks to your generosity, we are still distributing food hampers to the needy.

Although I am very familiar with poverty, I am still always impacted by the disparity between what I have and what others don’t have. It’s a chasm in between.

Once again, I thank you all for the support. It means a lot to people.

Ruben

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING UPDATE

Hello All,

“We don’t get wet anymore! It has been raining for three days now and if you did not have our roof fixed it could have been a big problem. Thank you very much because we can sleep properly now.”

Above is a translated message from one of our house/roof repair recipients. The direct and straightforward things we do can make a big difference!

Simple jobs, some might think insignificant in the big scheme of things, but to these people it’s a matter of not getting wet when it rains, allowing people a good night’s sleep, the very basic comforts of life especially for the elderly and the very young.

We have done 5 dwellings since the storm (shown below) and working on our 6th dwelling.

Thanking you all for the support. It is truly appreciated by people.

Ruben

Kirribilli House 22

Kirribilli House 23

Kirribilli House 24

Kirribilli House 25

Kirribilli House 26

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Storm/Covid Relief Update

Hi All,

While the island is very slowly recovering from the recent storm, we have continued to do what we can to help people get through this very difficult time.

We are still distributing food parcels to needy families.

People have been generous. Once again, I thank you all for your support and your generosity.

Ruben

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 27

Hi All,

Here we are doing our little bit for a better world and we see horrible images of destruction and carnage in Europe. Unimaginable suffering inflicted on others done on purpose is the hardest bit to accept, that humanity is still capable of this despite all the lessons of the past is very sad.

Anyway, three months on from the devastating storm that ripped through Bohol last December, people are still struggling to meet the demands of simple everyday living. What happened is not news anymore, and is almost forgotten.

But at least we are still around.

Their house flattened by the storm, this little girl and her family have been living in this makeshift shelter since then (pictured). We will be providing this family with a little proper house to live in.

In the scheme of things, what we do is almost insignificant but to this family, it means the world and for that they are truly grateful.

Thanks all for the support.

Ruben

Our ongoing food assistance.

Posted on March 21, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 26

Hi All,

Most of us would agree that clear blue skies are always a welcome sight, but not while looking directly upwards from one’s own bedroom or kitchen. Unfortunately, this has become a reality for thousands of poor families and their homes in the aftermath of the recent storm in Bohol.

We have been doing our bit to help and the damaged house you see above will be our 5th roof repair job. We have been spending on average around A$300 for each home repaired, a small price that has helped make a huge difference for the people living in these simple dwellings.

The support has been great. Many thanks to you all.

Ruben

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

From this:

To this:

One of our house repair jobs is almost done. Thank you all for the support.

We quietly do our little bit to rebuild lives but somewhere else in the world, missiles are fired and bombs are dropped just to do the opposite and much worse.

It is incomprehensible. It is madness.

Ruben

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 25

Hi All,

To try to make this house habitable again after the entire roof was blown away by the recent storm, this family managed to acquire some steel pipes and cheap paper-thin tarpaulins to temporarily protect themselves from the elements.

This is our fourth house that we will be providing roofing materials for to help restore it to its former condition.

The support has been great, many thanks to you all.

Ruben

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 24

Hi All,

The entire roof of this elderly lady’s home was blown away by the recent storm. To make the place habitable, she’s had to place tarpaulins over many parts of the house to protect it from the elements.

The above will be the third that we will help repair by providing new roofing materials.

Many thanks again for all the support.

Ruben

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 23

Hi All,

Pictured above is the second storm damaged house that we will help repair.

As mentioned in my previous post, we will be providing the new materials required to repair houses that are still standing with damaged roof structures. This way we can help as many families as we can with our limited resources. These are simple dwellings owned by the poor and they will do the repairs themselves. We are spending around A$300 for each home repaired.

Thanking you all for the support.

Ruben

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

HOUSING

Kirribilli House 22

Hi All,

With thousands of houses flattened by the recent storm and many more severely damaged, saving existing homes seems a more efficient way of using our limited resources to help as many families as we can. With the rainy season continuing, unprotected houses could easily rot and be beyond repair in a very short space of time.

We will be providing the new materials required to repair houses that are still standing with damaged roof structures (as in the case with this house above). Homeowners will do the repairs themselves. These are simple dwellings owned by the poor and we are aiming to spend around A$300 for each home repaired.

Thanking you all for the support.

Ruben

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Storm / Covid Update

Hello All,

“I hope my humble donation will bring a smile to a few faces.” - VS, a donor.

Despite the immensity of losing a house and almost all their possessions in it, the resilience of people is extraordinary and here are the little smiles that we have brought to a few faces.

To date we have managed to put together around 400 lots of food parcels and we could still do with many, many more. Please consider bringing a smile to a face or two if you haven’t yet. It is $18 bucks a smile!

Thanks again for all the support. It is truly appreciated.

Ruben

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Bohol Storm Update

His possessions still scattered all over the place, it is a comforting thought that we have provided this man, among others experiencing the worst of times, some form of respite from the very urgent need to secure the basic necessities of living.

So far, we have put together around 350 lots of food hampers and we could still do with many, many more. Please consider giving a hamper or two if you haven’t yet, many are desperate.

We strive to give hope and make a difference to people’s lives. On behalf of The Bohol Island Project, I thank you all for the support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone peace, good health and all the best for 2022. The past two years have been quite challenging for many and I hope this year will be a better one for all.

Thanks.

Ruben

Posted on January 2, 2022 by Andrew Mendez.

Bohol Storm - Urgent Food Relief Appeal

It has been a few days since the destructive winds and rains of Super Typhoon Odette made landfall in Bohol. Packing winds of up to 200 km/h near its centre, and gusts of up to 270 km/h, it destroyed homes, uprooted trees and brought down powerlines. The death toll is expected to climb further as search and rescue operations continue after they were initially hampered by power and communication outages.

Their situation made worse by Covid, it is very sad to see the devastation done by the storm to people who are already struggling just to meet their basic needs in the best of times. For now Covid has taken a backseat, almost forgotten, which is a big problem in itself.

So far, we have around 300 lots of food hampers and we could do with many, many more. These were supposed to be a Christmas special, something to be enjoyed during the festive season by people experiencing hard times. Now for many, these food parcels are absolute necessity.

The hamper will contain the following items: 5 kgs. of rice, canned goods (beef loaf + corned beef), a packet of confectionary, powdered milk and a packet of instant coffee! Cost is A$18 per hamper.

So please consider donating a hamper or two. Many are going hungry.

Sincerely,

Ruben

Donations can be arranged through our bank account below. Thanks.

Local transfers.
Bank Account Details:
Bank                           Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Account Title             The Bohol Island Project Incorporated
BSB                            062-005
Account Number      1113 8630

International transfers.
Bank                                                        Commonwealth Bank of Australia
International Bank Account Number   062 005 1113 8630
Swift Code                                              CTBAAU2S

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Andrew Mendez.

Christmas Greetings!!!

Christmas is approaching and I would like to wish you and your family happiness, peace, good health, and a wonderful year ahead.

The past two years have been very unusual times to say the least. Covid combined with poverty has been a formidable challenge. We strive to give hope and make a difference to people’s lives and I’m proud of all the work we have done thus far, and that we will continue to do what we can for those experiencing very hard times.

On behalf of The Bohol Island Project, I sincerely thank you all for the support.

Keep safe and take care.

Ruben

Christmas Hampers:

So far, we have around 225 lots getting ready to be distributed and we could do with more, especially considering the large storm that last night just hit the island, (see details below).

The hampers will be similar to the ones we have distributed in the past. Please consider donating a hamper or two and help share the joys of the festive season with the less fortunate among us.

The hamper will contain the following items: 5 kgs. of rice, canned goods (beef loaf + corned beef), a packet of confectionary, powdered milk and the luxury of them all - instant coffee! (a packet makes 48 cups). Cost is $18 per hamper.

The Storm:

As if the challenges the people are currently facing are not enough, Bohol last night was slap bang right in the eye of one of the strongest storms to make landfall this year, packing winds of up to 200 km/h near its centre, and gusts of up to 270 km/h. I stayed up all night to monitor the situation and try to cheer my family up. My sister said the roof on our home just barely held on. Family is alright though, thank God. Covid was forgotten for a moment.

Donations Tax Deductibility:

I submitted an application for tax deductions in late 2019. The authorities needed a lot of information and never in my life have I submitted so much paperwork to one entity. It was not an easy process, and it simply wore me down! I can understand why such measures are needed, the money could easily be used for unlawful purposes, but in the end, I was unable to finish the process.

I will have another attempt after the Christmas break and will push this right to the end. Hopefully this time the outcome will be positive.

Thanks again.

Ruben

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Andrew Mendez.

Ada’s Rehabilitation

Hi All,

This is Ada at her twice weekly physiotherapy sessions. As we can see, she is being cared for quite well.

We have done a few good things for people, but for me personally, giving Ada the chance for a better life is right up there with the most rewarding.

She is looking forward to starting Year 1 this school year and the walker we provided will make a big difference in helping her move around and interact with the other children, something that is critical to early childhood development.

Thank you all once again for the support.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Betito and Clarete families for voluntarily looking after Ada’s case with care and compassion.

Thank you.

Ruben

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Andrew Mendez.

STUDENT UPDATE

Hi All,

Life must go on despite the uncertainties brought about by this pandemic, so it is a delight to introduce Rhea, a new addition to our student education programme.

She has penned a short message of thanks below.

Our sponsored students past and present.

We have four active students at present including Rhea, and our former students are well on their way into their professional endeavours.

We are proud to have played a significant role in the transformation of their lives. Through our continued efforts we hope to bring many more young people this valuable opportunity.

Many thanks for the support.

Ruben

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Andrew Mendez.

ADA’S REHABILITATION

Hi All,

At long last Ada’s walker has arrived and seeing her take her first tentative steps is a wonderful thing.

This, along with her twice weekly physiotherapy sessions that we have also arranged, means that Ada’s rehabilitation is now fully underway. She is still at a young age, and the assistance we have provided will give her the best possible chance to achieve her potential given the very difficult circumstances in which she finds herself.

This opportunity would not have been possible without our assistance, and I sincerely thank you all for your support.

Ruben

Posted on September 28, 2021 by Andrew Mendez.

SOME GOOD NEWS

Hi All,

Our former sponsored student, Humer, after a few years of experience and learning his trade working on ships, has just passed his Marine Engineering Licensure Examination. He is now a fully licensed Marine Engineer.

From humble beginnings, we have played a major role in reshaping his life. It is a wonderful thing, and I thank you all for the support. It is truly and dearly appreciated.

Ruben

humer 2.JPG
Posted on September 16, 2021 by Andrew Mendez.

NEWS UPDATE

Hi All,

I hope you and your families are all doing well during these very challenging times, especially here in Sydney with our lockdown and alarming covid case numbers.

Back in Bohol, we have been quiet lately as we have sadly suspended our pandemic relief activities. Having been advised of the serious rise of covid cases and the entry of the much dreaded Delta strain on the island, the health risk to our volunteers is not justifiable at the moment. The situation is very worrying but hopefully we will be back doing our bit soon.

ADA

In consultation with a physiotherapist, we have ordered a walker for Ada. With our limited capacity to move around due to this pandemic, we have found it hard to source the walker locally. We have to order it from overseas and frustratingly it has been a long wait. We have also arranged for regular physiotherapy sessions to start her rehabilitation.

SONGS FOR ADA

This is a little fundraising effort by my son Sid for Ada. He plays the guitar and dabbles with several other musical instruments and here are some of his original compositions. As an 18 year old, he is into rap and so I have to remind him that he has to come up with something that would be ‘easy listening to older people’!

Sid reckons $10 is fair enough for his labours for Ada’s interests. If you think his music is not too bad, you can always give more! Please do have a listen below and download the songs hopefully for your listening pleasure.

Thank you all for your time and many thanks again for the support. Keep safe and take care.

Ruben

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Andrew Mendez.