“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead
“Humanism for HAPI is not just a philosophy or a stance, through our projects and advocacy, we are putting action and making this work for real people, real time.” – Jennifer C. Gutierrez, HAPI Executive Director
HAPI- Kids Nutrition Campaign is HAPI’s monthly feeding program, held at Alabang, that benefits indigent kids in their community. With a steady stream of donations, a monthly feeding program like this is easy– and a joy– to implement. But that isn’t always the case. To continue long-term HAPI projects, without worrying whether enough donations will come around, HAPI spear-headed a project called HAPI-Nest and Farms, an income generating project, to solve this, and we have Bill Gates to thank for it.
Well, not exactly Bill Gates. It is HAPI’s founder Marissa Torres Langseth aka “Ms. M”, who thought of this project. She was inspired by a video by Bill Gates about his new philanthropic project that involves chicken husbandry. “If you were living on $2 a day,” Bill Gates wrote in his article,Why I Would Raise Chickens (2016), “what would you do to improve your life?” This question is indeed as genuine and truthful for the Filipinos living in extreme poverty and hunger. The question, however, also resonates in organizations like HAPI that thrive in the generous and philanthropic hearts of donors– donations in kind or monetary or volunteerism– to the success of HAPI projects. “If you were living on donations what can you do to supply your basic needs without depending solely on it?
The Project Planning started last June 15, 2016: from deciding what materials to use for the chicken mansion (chicken coop) to the target number of chicks the project need to start with. Last July 15, 2016, the chicks already had occupied the chicken mansion. Thanks to the donations (most from the HAPI Core, officers, and leaders) which served as the initial capital, HAPI-Nest and Farm went beyond the 500-chick- target. Donor and sponsors are also stockholders of this income generating project. Updates are made in the HAPI- Leadership Facebook group.
HAPI-Nest and Farm is grateful for Jamie Del Rosario, HAPI – Project Implementer, and for the generosity of her family. The lot in Trece Martires, Cavite, where the chicken mansion found its home, is owned by Jamie’s family. Jamie is also responsible for the labor (building of chicken coops) and chicken husbandry. You are awesome Jamie!
HAPI – Nest and Farm Mission and Vision, HAPI – Nest and Farm’s mission is to fund long-term HAPI projects like the monthly HAPI- Kids Nutrition Campaign. Its vision is to build an income generating self-sufficient HAPI and to replicate this project in other HAPI chapters.
How can you help?
HAPI still needs your love, continued support, and generosity as our first batch of chicks occupy and live in their mansion. They will require feeds and vitamins. You can also Pledge a chick. One chick costs 27 pesos.
Send an email to [email protected] for inquiries:
- On how to donate or sponsor chicks
- On how to donate feeds and vitamins for chicks and chickens.
You can also donate:
- Via PayPal. (Just click the DONATE button on the upper right corner of this page)
- Via online banking or over-the- counter transactions:BPI Family Savings Bank- Vito Cruz/ Taft Avenue
Account Name: Humanist Alliance Philippines International, Inc.
Account number: 006083-3810- 41
International Service charge :
150Php plus Documentary Stamp of .30cents for every 200Php
Swift Code : BOPIPHMM
By Leoni Erica Tayamen :
