“RUN TO SUPPORT NAFCON’S ADOPT A COMMUNITY PROGRAM IN THE PHILIPPINES” Urbanathlon
October 7, 2015
Dear friends and family:
My name is Ryan Leano, Regional Staff Member of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns-Southern California Region (NAFCON SoCal). As a broad alliance, NAFCON serves to advance and defend the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the US. Our various campaigns aim to protect Filipinos in the US from criminalization and deportation resulting from a dehumanizing immigration system that treat migrants as labor commodities, as well as defending rights as workers in various industries in which Filipinos are a significant workforce population, such as nurses, hotel workers, caregivers, and domestic workers.
While working for the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the US, we also do not forget our people in the Philippines. The Philippine environment is blessed with unparalleled wealth and could easily support the entire population of the country. Sadly the Philippines is plagued by so much poverty because the government prioritizes foreign investment and profit over the people and a healthy environment. I ask that you join with NAFCON in taking a stand for our environment and the future of the Philippines by supporting NAFCON’s Adopt A Community Program! This program uplifts communities throughout the Philippines by providing much needed resources and empowering the Filipino people’s ability to survive and grow in the face of environmental and social challenges. The current focus of this program is to raise funds to build a sustainable water system for Talaingod Ata-Manobo community of Pantaron Range in Southern Mindanao. The Ata-Manobo are one of the 18 remaining indigenous groups in Mindanao. Currently there is no water system in the area and the Manobo must travel far distances or rely on rainfall for water. The proposed water system will provide safe, potable and permanent water supply for the whole community including the school and the community health clinic.
The project will put up water systems in two (2) barangays: Palma Gil and Dagohoy. It will be set up within the community school grounds (Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center Inc.) and community members will be trained on how to manage and maintain the build infrastructure. About 100 community school members and 1000 villagers will directly benefit from the proposed water systems. There will also be a series of community forums which will be conducted in the community schools. The topics of the community forums range from climate change, health and nutrition, and sanitation.
NAFCON calls on our families and friends to lend our love, prayers and monetary support to communities like the Talaingod Manobo through the Adopt A Community Program. NAFCON is collecting monetary donations and ensures that your donations go directly to the Talaingod Manobo Community in Southern Mindanao. Donations will be coursed primarily to our main partner—KALIKASAN PNE (People’s Network for the Environment), a network of grassroots organizations in the Philippines committed to strengthening the ability of the community to overcome environmental challenges and build a more sustainable way of life.
In order to fundraise, I have pledged myself to participate in the San Francisco Men’s Health Urbanathlon on November 22, 2015, an 11-mile race through urban obstacle courses set throughout the city streets. All donations received from this run will go to NAFCON’s Adopt A Community Program. Your pledge of support is not only going to fuel me as I run, it is going towards a positive effort in helping our members of the Filipino community in a time when we need it most.
To donate, please go to NAFCON’s Adopt A Community Program PayPal website at nafconus.org/adopt. In the notes area: “How did you hear about this program?” please type “Ryan Leano – Urbanathlon Fundraiser.” This will help in keeping track of how much I raised. For qualifying tax-deductible donations please email [email protected] for necessary documentation.
I appreciate any amount you can offer. Will you be part of the cause in helping me reach my goal of raising $1,000? Maraming salamat sa iyong lahat! (Thank you to all!)
Ryan Leano
NAFCON SoCal
nafconusa.org
