Looking Ahead in 2016 - Empowering Leaders

EMPOWERING LEADERS

LEADER MUNDIAL GLOBAL SUMMIT

COACHING GROUP BATCH 2

The year is still a month away before it ends but we are already looking towards 2016.  To say that we are excited is an understatement.  There are so many wonderful things to look forward to in 2016, but for us at ER Asia, the opportunity to expand our reach to empower leaders excites us the most.

In 2015, God gave us many opportunities to be part of developing and empowering leaders in Asia, and more specifically, in the Philippines.

We have established coaching groups comprising of leaders from our partners in Manila that meet once a month.  This involves tackling real issues that our partners face in their organization and ministries.  Each one contributes as we seek to find the best resolution to the challenges.  All of our partners mentioned in our Partner’s Response Report that they have benefitted a lot from the coaching group and are looking forward for more in 2016.

On the other hand John Basiwa, the Executive Director of our Manila Children’s Home, recently started his own network.  Last month, he conducted a capacity building seminar for our partner the Arms of Love Children’s Home.  He is now looking at empowering leaders of other Children’s Home in the Philippines.

I, on the other hand started a second coaching group comprises of young leaders of ministries ER Asia is working with.

Aside from that, 5 of our partners in Asia were able to attend the Global Leadership Summit in Rome, Georgia.  Two came from the Philippines, aside from myself and John Basiwa, one from Indonesia and two from Nepal.

Moreover, just a month ago, we held our annual Regional Summit in Manila which was attended by the leaders and spouses of our partners in the Philippines and we also invited leaders from other organizations..

All of these we intend to continue doing in 2016 and we are planning to do more.  We just recently started renting a bigger room which we are planning to use for training and conferences all year round.

Now we have a suitable facility to conduct our leadership development program which consists of strategic training, conferences and  coaching groups.  This will benefit not just our partners but our own programs.  The Golden Hands for example will have a bigger room to conduct their 6-month educational and livelihood program, while John will have a venue to hold his Children’s Home Network meetings.

LEADER MUNDIAL MANILA SUMMIT PICS

 

Looking Back in 2015 - Our Programs in ER Asia

Time Flies... And we are having so much fun!

(EXTREME RESPONSE MANILA CHILDREN'S HOME)

It seems yesterday when we officially launched the Manila Children’s Home, ER’s first in Asia. It has been almost two years already. Time flies indeed! And we are having so much fun. But it is more than just fun. It is pure joy! It is pure joy to see the amazing transformation in the lives of the ten (10) kids in the home. 

All of them are becoming healthier as the days go by. We have their pictures posted in one of the walls of the Home - their picture the first time we got them and beside it is their current one. You will immediately recognize the big change in their health and appearance. 

More than their appearance, we rejoice the most the change in their attitude and behavior. The once aloof and fearful are the most sweet and loving. 

They are now consistent honor students. In fact all of them finish the school year with awards and honors. Those who were bullies before now care the most. 

Yes, we are indeed having fun. This year, it so fun to watch the kids enjoy their many outdoor activities, such as the Children’s Home Camp, trip to the Mind Museum, movie viewing, just to name a few. For many of them, it was their first time. 

The fun of course won’t be possible without the hard working staff under the leadership of the couple John and Gela Basiwa, our Program and Executive Directors respectively. Through their tireless effort and sacrifices, our Children’s Home has received commendation and approval from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

GOLDEN HANDS

ER Asia's Livelihood Educational Program

It all started when Anne saw the unused sewing machines donated by Joshua’s cousin from Canada. She thought, “Why not use the sewing machines to teach some mothers in the church how to sew.” These mothers come from a very poor community and most of their time is spent either gambling or doing nothing at all. 

So Anne started with three mothers. She taught them how to make rags, a popular circular cloth in Manila which can be used for wiping, cleaning, as a pot holder, etc. 

Then Anne saw the need to go further that’s why she enrolled in a fashion school so she can teach the mothers how to make basic patterns. From rags, they ventured into making pillows, pillow cases, bags, short pants, curtains, etc. 

After a year, Anne started expanding the reach of the sewing program. She is now training 10 mothers. For 6 months, they will undergo training in sewing, cutting and pattern making, designing and crochet making to initiate income generating activities. 

After the training, each women will receive a sewing machine. Moreover, training materials required for cutting and sewing including papers, cloth, thread, scissors, and crochet accessories will be provided to them as a starter kit for their new enterprise. 

Now mothers from our partner organizations are waiting for their turn to be trained.