Filipino charity FundLife join the Homeless World Cup network
Filipino charity Fundlife join the Homeless World Cup network.
Fundlife joins 70+ grassroots organisations which represent their country at the Homeless World Cup.
Fundlife was set up in response to Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).
The Homeless World Cup are delighted to welcome FundLife to our network of global grassroots organisations.
Our new partner FundLife was established in 2014 in response to Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) which hit in November 2013. The category five storm devastated the country, affecting more than 14 million people, displacing 4.1 million and killing more than 6,000 people. The typhoon left more than 1 million people homeless.
Initially working with children affected by the disaster, they have expanded to work with young people who are socially excluded and isolated.
Since its founding, FundLife have used football to reach and engage some 100,000 young people, including more than 40,000 teenage girls. Their programmes teach young people key life skills and support them to move into employment.
Head of Operations for FundLife, Kimberly Lopez said: “For many years, we have seen football's enormous impact on young people displaced due to conflict or calamity across the Philippines. FundLife is incredibly proud to join the HWC network and support the power of football for good. We look forward to interacting and learning from other organisations using football to transform the lives of homeless people and those living in long-term emergencies.”
Homeless World Cup International Partnerships Manager, Zoe Hopkins said: “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome FundLife International into the Homeless World Cup Network of street football member countries. We’re keen to learn more about their Football-For-Life Academy that combines sports with educational sessions and entrepreneurial values.”
Background to FundLife’s work in the Philippines
In addition to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), the country also is affected by multiple layers of deprivation. Latest figures from 2019, show that 16% of the population are living under the poverty line (UNDP).
As of 2021, more than 4 million families in the Philippines were living in unsustainable conditions with a lack of safety and access to clean water and safe sanitation.
More than 6 million housing units are needed to address the chronic housing shortage, rising to over 12.3 million by 2030 (Habitat for Humanity, 2021).
Located in the ‘Fire Belt’ in the Pacific Ring of Fire – it is one of the most seismic countries in the world and at risk of natural disasters such as typhoons. An average of twenty typhoons hit the country every year, with varying levels of severity (Gov.uk). This has a direct impact on food security in the country (WFP, 2021).
Find out more about FundLife’s work in the Philippines.