Rise Above Foundation Cebu, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for underprivileged families in Cebu, Philippines is reaching out to compassionate individuals and businesses to support its mission through generous donations.
Since 2000, Rise Above has been working to serve underprivileged children, families struggling with poverty, and those affected by natural disasters by providing educational opportunities, livelihood training, and health and hygiene programs. The organization was founded by Flemming and Elisabet Hansen, a married couple from Denmark and Norway, respectively. The Hansens have made it their mission to help people in the Philippines, a developing country where more than 30 million people are living in poverty.
Flemming, who is Rise Above’s president, says that the organization is still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, even more than three years after. Due to community health restrictions, almost all of Rise Above’s projects were put on hold, and the tough economic situation has made it hard for the organization to raise funds.
Among Rise Above’s main activities in need of support are its dental and medical missions, which are held multiple times a year. These missions are conducted by dental and medical professionals from all over the world, who join Rise Above’s volunteer program, staying in Cebu for one to two weeks, sometimes longer, to provide dental and medical services to people in impoverished living situations.
Dental mission at Canjulao Elementary School
According to Flemming, the dental health and hygiene situation of low-income Filipinos is very poor, with both children and adults suffering from high rates of tooth decay and other oral diseases. This is due to lack of access to adequate dental care, as well as a bad diet containing high amounts of sugar. Many people have never seen a dentist in their life, and the dental missions provide an opportunity for them to receive much-needed treatments.
The Rise Above Community Center in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, houses a fully functional dental clinic, including an x-ray unit, where volunteer dentists can perform simple procedures such as teeth cleaning/oral prophylaxis, as well as complicated ones like tooth extraction and restoration. The Community Center also includes air-conditioned quarters for volunteers.
Rise Above also holds educational drives in public schools, informing children about the importance of toothbrushing and handwashing, as well as providing hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hand soap.
Other activities of Rise Above include food sharing to combat malnutrition, educational sponsorship, and family care and livelihood programs for children and mothers. To help lift families from poverty, the foundation’s Educational Sponsorship Program provides students with educational materials, uniforms, books, and daily lunch and snacks, allowing them to attend school and get better-paying jobs in the future.
Serving lugaw for a poor community
The organization also coordinates a volunteer program, facilitating local and overseas volunteers in providing their time and effort contributions to Rise Above’s various initiatives. It has also partnered with various organizations from around the world, creating volunteering and corporate social responsibility opportunities.
Rise Above’s core values are Faith, Love, Respect, and Sacrifice, and it endeavors to make the best use of its resources at all times. According to Rise Above, 96% of donations are used to fund its projects for children and communities, and only 4% is allocated for administrative expenses.
“Our mission at Rise Above Foundation is fueled by a deep commitment to help improve the lives of underprivileged people in Cebu,” Flemming says. “With your generous support, we will have the ability to bring about transformative change in the community. Even small donations will go a long way in furthering our vision to empower the next generation of Cebuanos in rising above the challenges of the future through access to education, livelihood, and healthcare.”
For interested individuals and organizations, the website’s donation page lists the various ways to financially support Rise Above Foundation Cebu.
Media contact:
Name: Elisabet Hansen
Email: [email protected]
