In the old calendar year, we decided at the general meeting to expand our volunteer activities in another country, namely the Philippines! Here again is the link to the appeal for donations at that time.
Although the country, known for its thousands of islands, is surrounded by water and provides a habitat for a multitude of creatures, the people are currently struggling with the possibility of a secure drinking water supply. In order to make a small contribution to the fight against this immense problem, we have joined forces with Waves for Water to provide concrete help. The focus is on distributing portable water filters that are able to purify even the most polluted water and make it suitable for human consumption. To this end, we have chosen the municipality of Norzagaray in the province of Bulacan for our collaboration.
Our aid campaign
Education: We know that access to water alone is not enough – it is also about teaching people how to use this water properly and keep it clean. On site, we taught the locals about the importance of clean drinking water and the difference between dirty and clean water. We also explained how to use the filters correctly, how to comply with rudimentary hygiene standards and how to sustainably manage the water sources used today.
Distribution: We were also on site for this project and distributed the portable water filters in the affected region, which enable the inhabitants to clean their water source directly on site. These filters can use water from rivers, streams or other natural sources and make it safe for daily use. To this end, the residents were involved in the joint assembly immediately after the distribution in order to internalize how they work.
Long-term support: The aid campaign is not limited to this one-off deployment. By working together with our local partner NGO Waves for Water, we ensure that all filters are used in the best possible way. Over the course of a year, they will travel from house to house to check the water filters for correct use and take countermeasures in the event of possible misuse so that as many people as possible can continue to benefit from the resources used.
The impact on communities
The distribution of water filters and the improvement of water quality have far-reaching positive effects:
Health: clean water reduces the risk of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrheal diseases that are spread by contaminated water. This leads to a healthier population.
Education: Children who no longer fall ill or have to waste time searching for water can go to school regularly, which significantly improves their future prospects.
Sustainability: Training the population in water management and hygiene ensures that the positive changes will continue in the long term.
Summary of Magic to the Philippines in 2025:
40 filter / bucket combinations, thereby supporting 153 households and thus 765 people!
Period: January 2025
Investment amount of MttW: 3375,57€ (~4,50€/person)
Cooperation with Waves for Water Philippines, especially through the support of Sarah, Noei & John on site.
MttW representative Florian on site
Further support of the village community by Waves for Water and monitoring of correct use
Many thanks to all supporters – You are magic!
Special thanks for this project go to Johannes, Kai, Sandra, Kerstin, Benjamin, Jens, Dominik, Max, Beata, Pit, Michael and Jakob! We would also like to thank all the donors who give us their money, regardless of the project, to make such activities possible! Our volunteers cover all the costs of the trip themselves, so that 100% of the donations go to the project.
Each and every one of us can contribute to the well-being of humanity. The Philippines is an emerging country with over 120 million inhabitants, one in ten of whom have no access to clean drinking water. With our commitment, we can not only contribute to the achievement of the most fundamental human rights and against the spread of disease, but also give Filipinos a gift: Hope for the future. Above all, we want to make this possible for the children! Let’s keep trying together to make the world a little better.
Step by step.
Project by project.
This project directly or indirectly supports the following SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals):
