Activities Update:

Philippines:

The Durrances have recently returned from a two month visit to the philippines where they reconnected with the staff, students and Philippines Board of Directors.

Ths Philippines program is going very well under the competent direction of Sison Paut the CEO and his staff. Sison, as a nine year old child, whose father had recently died, was one of IAT’s first sponsored children back in 1980. After graduating with a law degree, he elected to manage IAT rather than practice his profession, and has been assisting the people of Kalinga province in the northern Philippines ever since.

Sponsorship Program:

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of so many of you, this program is currently in its 36th year of operation, and has provided academic education and leadership training to thousands of children.

Together, through IAT and your generosity and compassion, you have produced 5 school principals, 2 university professors, a surgeon, lawyers, teachers, nurses, midwives, agriculturalists, foresters, engineers, artists, barrio captains and community leaders to name a few.

IAT’s focus is upon providing opportunities for children to gain the knowledge, confidence, competence and skills that empower them to make positive socio-economic change.

Unlike most sponsorship programs that discontinue support when a child completes high school, most of IAT’s sponsors are willing to increase support in order to ensure their child obtains a profession where they can then be more effective in making a positive difference. IAT currently has 33 students at the college level, four of which are graduating this month.

There are now graduates of the Sponsorship and leadership programs in more than 250 different communities and villages in Kalinga Province, Mountain Province, in squatter areas in Manila, Zambales, Bataan and amongst the indigenous Mangyans of Mindoro. While in the Philippines The Durrances were joined by Jennifer Sault who, as a young girl of 14, organized her school, Sisler High, in Winnipeg, to raise enough money to enable IAT to establish a daycare in one of the remote villages. Through the leadership of Braiden Pergis and others, the school is still supporting the Dupag Daycare and Jennnifer continues to support a young girl through the sponsorship program. Jennifer, a Masters graduate in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadershp at Carleton University, has just joined IAT’s board of Directors and will be heading our upcoming fundraising initiatives from the UAE.

Jennifer, left, visiting the daycare she initiated

IAT

International Association for Transformation 992 Nightingale Rd. Tel: (250) 929-3240 Website: www.iatcan.org Mill Bay BC Canada V0R 2P2 Fax: (250) 929-3260 E-mail: iat@iatcan.org

Newsletter

Spring 2016

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As sponsors and supporters, without having been on site to see the children you assist and their conditions, Jen’s letter, below, will help you to realize the results of your kindness and generosity. Jen’s Letter I had been dreaming of visiting the Philippines since 2003, when I was 14 years old. That was the year I first learned of issues surrounding poverty and the need for improved education in the Kalinga province of the Philippines. I was encouraged to take action through the International Association for Transformation (IAT) by my aunt and uncle, Carol and Michael Foort. A group of friends and I at Sisler High School therefore began to raise funds to sponsor a daycare in Dupag. After completing high school, I continued to contribute to IAT through sponsoring a child. Thirteen years have since passed. The students at Sisler High School have continued to sponsor the daycare year after year with thanks to their hard work and dedication. Additionally, I watched my sponsor child flourish and grow through her monthly letters. I have always been impressed by her success and progress. However, nothing prepared me for what I witnessed when I went to visit this last month. My expectations were all blown out of the water! My sponsor child, Donna, is now seventeen years old and is excelling in her studies and extra curricular activities. As she was also staying in the IAT centre, I was privileged to spend a lot of time with her over my two-week visit. First, she is a kind and caring soul, mature well beyond her years. She acted as a big sister to so many, even me at times! It was a pleasure to get to know her. Also, I was impressed when I witnessed her routine: her days last from 4am to 10pm and every moment is full of studying! Even her days off she spends cooking, cleaning and studying further. I could not imagine being so disciplined and determined when I was a teenager! The dedication and hard work of all of the IAT scholars is simply phenomenal. Their grades are their first priority and they push themselves to the limit, all while maintaining big smiles.

It was amazing to see how much of a difference my and the other sponsor’s donations are making. These students are turning our modest support into nothing less than magic for them and their families. Indeed, IAT does not just provide an education for these kids, but also provides leadership-training opportunities and fosters grounded values and confidence. I am convinced that these students will have such bright futures and go on to be leaders in their communities, as so many IAT scholars have done so before them. This was an unforgettable trip for me. The beauty of Tabuk and its people is one I already long for, but what is more, I am inspired. The work of the IAT scholars, community participants and leaders, and especially the IAT staff prove to me that with perseverance, hard work, and the kind support of others, we can overcome overwhelming challenges to see lasting and positive change in this world.

Jennifer with Donna

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I want to thank Donna and all scholars for being so welcoming. I feel you are all my friends. Thank you to Fidela, the wonderful teacher in Dupag daycare. I know that the continued efforts of the Sisler High School students are leading to the best possible results. You are simply wonderful with the daycare students. Thank you to David and Petra Durrance for starting this organization, inviting me on this adventure, and for being so encouraging. Also, I want to especially thank Remy Bainto, Sison Paut, Merlinda Paut, and Nancy Ngawoy for making time in their very busy schedules to show me the great work that they do. I look up to all of you and I miss you very much. I am so excited to actively fundraise for IAT. Thank you! Jen Sault

For twenty years, IAT’s daycare programs have been supported through the proceeds of Quadra Island’s huge annual community garage sale organized by Carol and Michael Foort assisted by many other Quadra Islanders. Carol and Michael revisited IAT’s Philippines’ projects last year. Below is a communication from Carol.

Carol’s Communication

InFebruaryofthispastyear,myhusband,MichaelandIaswellastwoothersponsorsfromQuadraIsland,SteveandDanielle,hadtheopportunitytotraveltoTabukinthenorthernPhilippines.Ithadbeen16yearssinceIhadfirstvisitedthereandourintentionwastovisitoursponsoredchildrenaswellasthedaycareprogramsthathavebeensupportedduringthepast20yearsthroughQuadraIsland`sannualCommunityGarageSale.Itwascertainlyrewardingforallfourofustovisitthevillagesofdaycarechildren,parentsandteachers.Overthepast2decadesQuadraislandershavesupportedatotalof7preschoolprogramsandover1,100childrenthroughapartnershipwithIAT.Manyoftheoriginaldaycarechildrenarenowsuccessfulprofessionalgraduatesworkingeitherintheirownvillagesorabroadandofferingsupporttotheirfamilies.DuringQuadra’ssponsorship,the

dedicatedteachersfromtheseprogramshavebeenabletoshowthebenefitofpositivedaycareovertimeandthus,overthepastyearourgoal-tohavelocalgovernmentassumethisresponsibility-hasfinallybeenrealized.WearenowsupportinganinnovativeinitiativethroughIATcalledtheGiftForPeaceProgramandwewerehonoredtobeparticipantsinthespecial“PassingtheGift”ceremonyduringourstay.

Itwasheart-warmingtomeetnotonlyourownsponsoredstudentsbutchildrenofothersponsorsfromQuadra.Duringtheextentofourstaywewereindeedtreatedasroyaltyandshownunendinghospitality.SharingfoodisanespeciallyimportantpartofKalingacultureandsowewerecertainlywellfedaswereceivedregularinvitationsforsimplebutdeliciousmealsconsistingoflocaldelicacies.Onemorningwewereeveninvitedforbreakfastwiththelocalmayor!ForFilipinos,amealisnotamealunlessthereisriceandavarietyofstickyricedishessoonbecameafavouritepartofours! OurvisitbeganwithapresentationinourhonorattheIATdormbysponsoredstudentsthatincludedemotionalintroductions,inspiringspeechesandanofferofmusic,danceandfood.WealsohadthehonorofattendingKalingaDays,acelebrationoftraditionalcultureincludingaparadeof2000gongsfromvarioustribalareasandplayedbytheparticipantsclothedinrich,colorfulKalingaattire.SinceIAThasbeenwellrecognizedinthelocal

Carol & Michael & two of the children they Sponsor

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Tabukcommunity,becauseofourconnection,thisvisit made us celebrities and we were interviewed for the radio and even local tv. We were constantly shown genuine appreciation as to how much our humble Quadra support has meant to the children of this area and their families as well as the affect on their future. For these communities with all of their challenges, a little goes a very long way! What a joy it was for me to reconnect with Remy and Sison and his wife Merlinda, IAT coordinators whom I had met during my original visit over 16 years ago and to now have the privilege of meetings their families as well. Being IAT graduate sponsored students themselves, there are few who are as committed to creating positive change as these three inspiring individuals! CarolFoort

IAT’s Gift For Peace Program, developed by

Sison Paut in partnership with Heifer International, continues to be a huge success in promoting peace between conflicting tribes in the northern Philippines. The concept being that a cow or pig is given to a family in one tribe under the condition that they give its first born to someone with whom they have had a conflict with in another tribe. The recipient of this gift animal then is committed to give its first offspring to someone with whom they have had a past or current conflict.

The Durrances and Jennifer attended one of IAT’s

a pass on ceremonies with over 300 attendees from

several villages who were receiving the first born cows and pigs from recipients of other villages who had first been given an animal. Twelve cows and more than 100 pigs were presented during this occasion. IAT is currently working with 39 villages and by the end of 2017 more than 2000 participating families will have benefitted from this program.

The success of this program has been phenomenal. Officials from Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Nepal as well as other areas of the Philippines have come to observe and learn how they might replicate the model.

Costa Rica Program

With the Costa Rican program still on hold due

to lack of funding, the Durrances have been focusing their time on Petra’s daycare located at Cobble Hill BC. www.starchildcentre.ca.

Montessori, Waldorf-based and outdoor

education are the focus with individual garden plots for each child, and daily visits to the chickens, ducks, goats, alpacas, a retired horse and two miniature donkeys. These outdoor activities are instilling a deep love of animals and an appreciation of, and connection with, the earth and nature. It is hoped that this generation of little ones will, upon reaching adulthood, step up to the challenge to reverse the environmental devastation and the greed our current corporate leaders and global governments are so bent on.

Sison Paut Facilitating Pass on Ceremony

Daycare Children Harvesting Their Raspberries

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Current Activities: • With new, younger, tec-savvy additions to

IAT’s Board of Directors, (Taryn Treloar, Mario Desjardins, Jen Sault and Nathan, a son of the Durrances) and with Jen’s education and experience in Philanthropy and Non-profit Leadership the Board plans to engage in some major fundraising in support of the Philippines and, to reactivate the Costa Rica initiative. Jen has already developed a facebook page for IAT: www.facebook.com/IAT.NGO

• The new board members are also planning to update and upgrade IAT’s website: www.iatcan.org in the near future.

• It would also be helpful if all of you, with email addresses, took a moment to provide these to us. This will facilitate communication and reduce postage by hopefully allowing us to send your child’s communication via email.

Regarding Sponsorship: • With the decrease in the Canadian dollar and

major increases in costs in the Philippines, we hope sponsors will understand our need to increase the sponsorship for the children in elementary and high school to $475 per year. For those sponsoring students in college the annual fees vary between $800 and $1,000 depending upon the course and college enrolled in.

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• We wish to expand the sponsorship program and, therefore, ask if each sponsor would be willing to motivate a family member or friend to sponsor a child or to make a donation to support our fundraising efforts.

Thank You:

Our Canadian and Philippines’ Boards of Directors and all of us volunteers involved in IAT’s work, extend our deepest gratitude to all sponsors and supporters who, through your partnership with IAT and consistent kind-hearted generosity, have played a major role in improving the lives of thousands of underprivileged children and families in more than 150 marginalized communities. Together we are making this world a better place!

A few of our sponsors have been with us for more than 30 years and a special thanks goes out to you.

Also, a special thanks, again this year to Carol and Michael Foort and the Quadra Island community, who, through their annual community garage sale have been supporting the daycare program in several villages and are now assisting the Gift for Peace program.

Many thanks to the OSEF students at Sisler School in Winnipeg for their support of the Dupag daycare in the northern Philippines and the Centre for Spiritual Living–Victoria, for its ongoing sponsorship of two children as well as annual contributions towards IAT’s Youth Leadership Training.

Thanks and welcome to IAT’s new board members.

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Yes! I want to make a difference

I wish to sponsor a child: (annual cost $400) I enclose a general donation: Boy Girl Either $25 $50 $100 Other ______ I enclose: Name _________________________________________________

$475 Cheque or money order 6 X $80 post-dated cheques Address _______________________________________________

12 X $40 post-dated cheques __________________________________ P. code ___________ Kindly make cheque payable to IAT and Tel: __________Fax: __________Email: _____________________ send to mailing address:

992 Nightingale Rd., Mill Bay BC V0R 2P2 A receipt for income tax purposes will be sent for all contributions above $10.00 Canada Charity registration No: 8907 43594 RR 0001