Transform Marjorie and Tasyana's life with a gift that will last for generations.
With more than 600,000 people live in Manila's slum district of Tondo, the worst of the conditions can be found at Tondo's 'Happyland' BRGY105 where the population has grown from around 3,500 in 2006 to more than 12,000 today.
Marjorie and Tasyana are two single mothers who for the last 12 years have lived here. Spending each day going through McDonalds leftovers to survive. Recooking and selling what is locally known in the slum as Pagpag a dish made from bits of meat found in the trash.
They sell the recooked food to hungry families in the slums for 30p per bag. Earning around £3 per day, they both face the daily struggle to try and put their children through education as well as trying to survive in their one room shack with no shower and no bed.
Marjorie wants to provide her children with an education so when she is no longer here, they will at least have the foundations of knowledge to hopefully leave Happyland behind.
We came across their harrowing story whilst visiting the slum in Tondo recently. Cautious at first, they decided to let us into their lives, and it quickly became clear that the issues they faced went beyond earning money. Poverty, severe malnutrition and disease is an everyday reality for Marjorie and Tasyana's family.
Together, we can provide both families with a new home to live in, beds to sleep in and give their children an education that will support them with a new future so can leave Happyland once and for good.
Support will also be given to Marjorie and Tasyana who want to start a new business selling clean water.
Special thanks to: Paul Setares, Bei Yuh, Eira Miguel, Gabby Banares, Nathasia Yazon.
Donor comments:
I hope she lives a better life, her and her Children deserve it 😔"- Anonymous.
"It's Okay! We are with you and we love you!" - Mohammed
"Thank you for giving these people a platform speak their stories." - Anonymous
"To give is to to receive" - Anonymous
"This story broke my heart. I wish these families all the success their love deserves" - Ruth
"Wishing Marjorie & Tasyana very Best for their future. Wonderful humanitarian work by Verse." - Donna-Maria
"May Allah bless them and fulfill all their good deeds." - Anonymous.
"May all be healthy, happy and abundance of life always." - Jesmin Yeoh
"Incredible and powerful short film." - Suni
Today, provide Marjorie and Tasyana's family with a better job, a better home, and a much better future.
100% of your donation will go to:
STAGE 1: £1500
Marjorie:
- £600 will be distributed into accounts for her children's education.
-£120 will be spent on purchasing materials to start a new business.
Tasyana:
- £320 will be used to pay off a debt that she's been paying for over 3 years.
- £400 will be used to purchase groceries to sell in her current shop.
STAGE 2: £5000
Marjorie:
- £1480 will be used to buy a new house in the Isabel province.
- £600 will be distributed into accounts for her children's education.
- £500 will be spent on providing them with self sustainable business in Isabel.
Tasyana:
- £320 will be used to pay off a debt that she's been paying for over 3 years.
- £800 will be used to build her a new shop so she can support her family, no longer having to cook pagpag.
- £300 will be spent on groceries and products and healthier foods to sell within the community.
- £400 will be spent on laying pipes through her neighbourhood to provide the community with clean water and a drainage system.
STAGE 3: £10,000
- £3000 will be used to purchase cattle and farming equipment for Marjorie to invest in starting her very own self sufficient farm. A dram of hers as a child!
- £2000 will be spread out in instalments to Tasyana to support her growing business in her new home.
Follow every step.
We will share the progress of Marjorie and Tasyana's story by filming the change, we call these "Impact Stories", showing you the difference you made to their lives. That's what we call true transparency!
Your donation, now making a difference.
From over 30 countries you came together to give Marjorie and Tasyana a future they could only dream of. Because of your support their dream is now turning into a reality.
Friday 3rd September 2021
We've been hard at work to relocate Tasyana and her children from the slum. Building a business there has provided them with the means to relocate into proper housing. They've managed to move their store too! We've been wanting to do this for some time, and now that Covid is on the mend, they've set to work to rebuild their business and home outside of Manila.
Wednesday 28th April 2021
Due to Covid, Marjorie has decided to invest building a farm, one that can allow them to be more self sufficient. Growing their own produce and giving them the support they need during this time. Your ongoing contributions have provided a few cows and chickens to begin the adventure!
Wednesday 2nd December 2020
COVID-19 has turned nearly every country upside down, including the Philippines. We've been in close contact with both Marjorie and Tasyana to ensure they're safe and healthy. Both their businesses have been effected and your donation are helping them more than ever!
Friday 13th March 2020
Nearly 1 year on and Tasyana's shop has got a name for itself. Thanks to their story being told, people from around the village have taken a liking towards her food. Particularly the Pancit Canton, a traditional vegetable noodle dish! With more customers, she's learning to manage and grow her business.
Tuesday 7th January 2020
Your donations have kept coming in, providing Marjorie the opportunity to build a local sari sari (corner shop) next to her home. This business will allow her to support her family each day. The kids are now attending a local school, and your support has given them new uniforms, and school equipment to cover them for the year! ... And by the looks of things, are having a lot of fun! :)
Tuesday 4th June 2019
Up north, your donations have allowed local builders to work each day, to complete Marjorie's new countryside cottage! With 3 rooms, built from the ground up, and ready to protect them during rain season, she couldn't be happier to spend her first night in their new home!
Sunday 12th May 2019
It's been an eventful full on past few months, and Tasyana has finally had the grand opening of her new store. She's full stocked with all sorts of produce from coffee, food to cleaning equipment, she couldn't be more happier to start, thanks to everyone who got her here.
Wednesday 10th April 2019
500km north of Tasyana, Marjorie has bought the materials to begin work on her house. Hiring local builders to lay down the foundations and walls, none of which would be possible without you.
Monday 8th April 2019
Thanks to your ongoing donations, Tasyana and her eldest daughter Mary grace headed to Pure Gold, a wholesale supermarket to purchase groceries for their new shop. Overwhelmed with your help they can't wait to support their future in their new business.
Monday 23rd March 2019
For the first time in her life Tasyana now has a sink, providing the family with a safer and more hygienic way when cooking for their new store. The builders have constructed an enormous shelving unit that divides the kitchen and store front, providing a place to sell groceries that she can now buy thanks to you. Meanwhile a whole new drainage system has been installed, and more importantly will extend to the surrounding community, allowing them all to dispose of water waste.
Friday 15th March 2019
Work continues on the last wall of Tasyana's shop. With only a few millimeters of rusted sheets, cockroaches and rats were regularly found in her shop. Now it will be completely sealed it from all vermin, rain and any unwanted visitors. Tasyana looks on at the transformation.
Saturday 2nd March 2019
The first wall is up for Tasyana's new shop! But there's plenty more work to do, David the local builder starts on their new door (with a lock) that will provide them with much needed security for their shop. Meanwhile Tasyana can't believe everything is changing so quickly!
Sunday 10th February 2019
Excited and grateful to have received the first part of your donations, they can't wait to get to work. Tasyana has hired local construction workers to start planning the renovation of her new shop that will provide her family with new and exciting business opportunities, so they can have the future they've always wanted.
Whilst Marjorie has left Manila for Isabella's countryside to begin building a house that will provide her children with a completely new future, starting with an education. Due to the distance from Manila, updates on her progress will be gradual.