Newsfeed
Scroll below to read inspiring stories about people like you who are fulfilling their purpose by empowering the poor. Subscribe to our ER Newsletter, via the link in our footer.
Grandmother’s Advocacy Rescues Aziza
Today we revisit the story of a student whose future once appeared hopeless. Because of some unfortunate circumstances, her mother could not care for Aziza, who was suffering poor emotional and physical health. Fortunately, Aziza's grandmother took her in and started...
Street Kid Wanders Into a Life Changing Event
By Raymond Sumaya, iBIKE Program Director When we started iBIKE, we met a child named Johan*. He is now six years old. He lives in a slum area in San Isidro, Makati. His mother is a housewife and his mother is a driver. His life was a constant struggle, but he managed...
Woodside Volunteers Invest in Ecuador Community
How do you measure the impact of cross-cultural volunteers? For the 26 members of Woodside Bible Church, Romeo Campus, the impact was plentiful in the physical work accomplished, and the emotional and spiritual growth among the team and the community of Pifo, Ecuador....
Move Over, Coco, Ralph and Vera, You’ve Got Competition
Meet the Philippines' newest fashion designer...ER'S Anne Benavidez! Anne trained for nine long years to accomplish this designation. It required countless hours and many sleepless nights. As a wife, mom, leader in the church, and as the head of Golden Hands...
University Nurses Provide Health Screenings to Dream Center Kids
The people who volunteer to help at-risk families are awesome. We're thankful for such volunteers, like a team from the University of South Carolina (USC) that traveled to Fish Hoek, South Africa. The nursing students brought joy and excitement to the Dream Center....
Mika Overcomes Culture, Lockdowns
Mika* is outgoing, friendly and loves daydreaming. She and her older sister attend the Fish Hoek Dream Center. Her father works in security and her mother works at a school. The family is racially mixed, which causes problems for the children. They are caught between...
‘When I Look at Them, I See Me’
Raymond Sumaya grew up in an extreme section of Makati City, part of Metro Manila. He refers to it as a slum, 'where people struggle to find jobs, housing, food and education." These conditions did not defeat him. Instead, they filled Raymond with drive, passion and...
ER Loses a Great Friend and Partner, Pierre Roux
The following stories pay tribute to ER heroes - those who have lived sacrificially in order to serve others. We hope you are inspired by their lives. It is with great sadness we share the passing of longtime ER partner Pierre Roux, who led Africa To Asia Innovative...
Next Level: 24-Hour Challenge Promotes Functional Fitness
Gabe Fisher loves fitness, youth and faith. He uses these passions to help vulnerable people in Fish Hoek, South Africa find direction and purpose. The youth he is mentoring call themselves "Silverbacks". As the director of ER's L327-Fitness life skills program, Gabe...
Quito Dream Center Girl Studies Pharmaceuticals
Belén has come a long way. She has a dream, goals and hope for her future. Belén was raised in extreme poverty in Ecuador. Her mother is a recycler who has struggled to provide for her family. Despite these trials, Belén recounts her childhood as being calm and...
Teacher, Teacher: Dream Center Student Helps Others
Mutsa*, age 8, is a grade 3 student who has been enrolled in the Fish Hoek Dream Center for two years. She is full of joy and laughter. She is easily excited and sees the best in every situation. She dreams of being a teacher and often helps the kids who are...
Once Angry and Unfocused, Thabo Now Boldly Shares His Faith
Thabo's story demonstrates the incredible value of patiently investing in the futures of at-risk kids. By Amy Townsend, Fish Hoek Dream Center Co-Director Thabo* began attending the Fish Hoek Dream Center in 2016 as a Grade 1 learner. He started when the Dream Center...
Spitfire Turns From Trouble
Prior to joining the Cavite Dream Center (DC) in Metro Manila, Maggie* was a five-year-old spitfire, perhaps even a troublemaker. Even though she has a family and a home, she spent too much time on the streets acting out like other street kids. After she enrolled in...
The Power of Relationships Update: Together, We Will Rescue Vulnerable People
WE DID IT. MATCHING FUNDS ACHIEVED! Update: Your generous support of our year-end Power of Relationships appeal allowed ER to qualify for 100% of the $125,000 in matching funds pledged by donors. The ER Fund has been bolstered as we begin 2023. Let's pray for big...
Donor Accountability and Transparency
We're pleased to share that Extreme Response International has reached Candid's GoldSeal of Transparency again for 2022. This achievement helps demonstrate our desire for donor transparency in all we do. Whether you are making your first gift to Extreme Response or...
Meaghan Catron Joins Extreme Response as Director of Development
We are thrilled to announce ER has hired Meaghan Catron as our first Director of Development. She is originally from Roanoke, VA, and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University where she studied chemistry. Meaghan has a double Master's in Nonprofit Management and...
You Helped Madi Triumph Over Tragedies
ER's Anne Benavidez shares the inspirational story of Madi, whose life has been positively disrupted through ER's Golden Hands life skills program in Metro Manila. Supporters like you make this possible. Madilyn "Madi" Urbano, 41, is a widow and a mother of two kids,...
Annalie Is Realizing Her Dream through the Power of Relationships
By Amy Townsend, Fish Hoek Dream Center Co-Director Annalie* has endured tremendous hardship in her life, which is why her story will resonate deeply with you. Annalie, age 13, and her younger sister, Zonja*, age 7, are part of the Fish Hoek Dream Center and attend a...