Philippines
Helping moms & babies in the Philippines
You are changing the lives of moms and babies. Here’s how.
Mom's & Babies
The Need
Of the 5.2 million children who die around the world each year, 75 per cent die in the first year of life. Babies are at risk of death due to premature birth complications, complications during childbirth, infections, pneumonia and diarrhea. But this is preventable. With training and support, moms in poverty can be empowered to raise healthy and happy babies.
Our Response
Critical care
Your support helps secure access to pre- and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants and medical intervention when necessary.
Home-based care
Mothers are visited in their homes monthly by a Survival specialist, who offers education in prenatal care and early child-rearing as well as one-on-one biblical mentoring.
Group-based learning
At these church-based activities, moms learn skills to earn an income and gain vital knowledge including basic literacy, the importance of breastfeeding and how to prevent malnutrition and disease. These groups combat isolation through a supportive community of mothers who, together, learn about the God who loves them.
Philippines Stats
| Average number of children in household | 5 |
| Average age of first-time mothers | 17 |
| Births attended by skilled health personnel | 84 |
| Stunted growth from malnutrition | 29 |
Activities
Provisions: Moms received food packs containing rice and other necessities to provide meals for their families, supporting good health and nutrition. Participants also received hygiene kits, medical care, medicine and complementary foods and Bibles for families and children. Lactose-free milk products were made available to a mom and baby in Santa Cruz, Jiminez, experiencing acute gastroenteritis.
Discipleship: Moms met in cell groups to deepen their relationship with God. Caregivers freely shared their testimonies, takeaways from the sermons and prayer requests. This time together provided comfort, relief from burdens and assurance that God cares for them and that He answers prayer. During Couples’ Fellowship at the Cagayan de Oro City Survival Program, parents learned biblical principles about their roles as husband and wife, strengthening their marriage commitment. Moms from Santa Cruz, Jiminez, learned how to find peace and control and how to keep calm when angry.
Nutrition: “Pabasa sa Nutrisyon”, a nutrition education approach that originated from the Nutrition Centre of the Philippines, supported moms with breastfeeding and appropriate complementary food for babies over six months. Moms participated in a cooking contest, making nutritious and affordable meals and played games on nutrition to complement their learning.
Income generation: Moms from the Cagayan de Oro City Survival Program learned to make Binangkal, a favourite snack in the community, which they can sell. Moms in the Santa Cruz, Jiminez, Survival Program practised sewing stitches to achieve better results with sewing projects. At the Almeria, Biliran Survival Program, moms enjoyed basketweaving using natural materials and learned to bake cake pops, jelly flans and wafer cakes. Moms were grateful to gain skills to earn income for their families.
Education: During group meetings, moms learned vital education on child development, caring for children, child protection, nutrition, hygiene and postpartum depression prevention and reduction. Staff also visited moms and babies in their homes to offer personalized care and support. Lessons were accompanied by dynamic activities and games.
Group activities: Families gathered for recreational activities and celebrated special events such as birthdays and Christmas. An outdoor Thanksgiving party brought joy for caregivers in the Almeria, Biliran Survival Program with a lively dance presentation.
Project Stats
This intervention addressed:
| Full-term births | 10 |
| Pregnancies | 3 |
| Illness subc: Respiratory Tract Infection | 1 |
| Breastfeeding Moms | 15 |
| Malnourished Babies - Severely Underweight | 31 |
| Attended births | 9 |
| Malnourished Babies - Moderately Underweight | 63 |
| Normal birth weights | 10 |
ReportA message from a pastor
How quickly time passes! October 27, 2014, was the official launch day of the Survival program, marking almost 11 years of the program. We started out with only 15 available spaces but later had 20. Although the Survival program is slated to conclude in June 2025, we are grateful to the sponsors for extending the initiative.
These infants are now healthy and active because of the treatment our program offers. We cover their medical care, including checkups, hospital stays, prescription drugs and family therapy. We also give meal packs that include milk for the infants and hygiene kits for the mother and child.
In order to foster spirituality, we host caregiver groups and Bible lectures, where moms can read the Bible and write their own or devotions or reflections. In order to have constant communication with the Lord, we also encourage our caregivers to create their own daily prayer. The intention is to assist them spiritually as well as physically.
As the pastor, my gratitude for this program is immense. We will have the opportunity to reach out to others and win them to Christ by reaching out to them as part of our mission. Now let us accomplish the Great Commission and day by day, transform God’s plan for the world into a reality.
I want to thank you for all that you have done. We sincerely appreciate your generosity and kindness. Stay blessed!
Sincerely,
ReportA message from those your gift helped
It gives me great pleasure to express my sincere appreciation to Compassion and to all the people behind this meaningful effort. This organization has been a great blessing to me—not only in providing material support but, more importantly, in nurturing my spiritual life.
Through the program, we’ve been able to provide the necessary medication for my child’s skin condition, and for that, we are incredibly grateful to the Lord. I was also overjoyed to attend our centre activities, where I had the opportunity to fellowship with other mothers and be encouraged by the sharing of God’s Word.
Because my family and I know that God is always with us and watching over us, we feel strong and hopeful even in the face of life’s challenges. As I care for my children, I’ve grown more patient, loving and faithful. The support and encouragement we receive from the program helps us grow not only as individuals but also as a family rooted in faith.
Thank you so much to the Survival program and Compassion Philippines. We are deeply grateful to the individuals who founded and continue to support this organization. Above all, we give thanks to our Almighty God, our loving Heavenly Father, who makes all this possible.
ReportA message from a partnership facilitator
I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support through the Survival program. Your kindness is not only helping families, but it is also creating a ripple of hope and transformation throughout our entire community.
The Survival program has become a vital source of strength for many families. Through your generosity, we are receiving essential support such as nutritious food, medical care and guidance for caregivers—especially mothers and infants during their most vulnerable stages. These services are saving lives and giving children a healthy start, which is something we once only dreamed of.
But the impact goes far beyond Survival. The program empowers caregivers with knowledge and skills, helping them become more confident and capable of raising their children. It also fosters a sense of unity and resilience among families, as we support one another and grow together. We are beginning to see real change—children are thriving, families are becoming more stable and hope is being restored.
Your support is a powerful reminder that we are not alone. You are part of this transformation, and your generosity is helping to build a brighter, more promising future for all of us.
Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for being part of our journey. Your compassion is making a lasting difference.
With sincere appreciation,