Local Leadership. Global Backing. Sustainable Impact

We build up our in-country partners to deliver the projects they envision for their community.

At the heart of our work is a simple but powerful belief: local people know what their communities need. Through our 3-way partnerships, we back in-country partners (ICPs) as they lead their own initiatives with vision and passion. Floradel (Flo) Abundo is one such leader in the Philippines and from small beginnings to significant scale, Flo’s story shows how local leadership, supported with the right tools and encouragement, can flourish.

 In the Philippines, the intersection of poverty, English fluency and internet access has made communities vulnerable to sex trafficking and online sexual exploitation (OSEC). Through Project J999N Captivating Philippines- Stop Trafficking/Empower Women, Flo and the Sanghaya Foundation team fight exploitation through a multi-pronged strategy of prevention, restoration and reintegration, from school-based awareness programs to microfinance initiatives for mothers.

GDG’s Joel Pearson and Jenny Wegner’s monitoring visit in March this year highlighted Flo and her team’s passion and adaptability in strengthening programs after post-COVID challenges. This is what sustainable impact looks like: local leaders with vision, backed by donors who believe in their potential.

 We asked Flo to share about her vision and passion for the challenges in her community and here’s what she had to say:

What inspired you to start the J999N Stop Trafficking/Empower Women project?

I’ve always had a heart for leadership and community building—rallying people around a shared vision and empowering them to lift each other up. I believe that when individuals are inspired and supported, the whole community grows stronger. That ripple effect has always driven me.

More specifically, I’ve long been passionate about strengthening Filipino families. I truly believe that each family unit plays a vital role in overcoming the deep-rooted challenges we face as a country.

Then I learned about human trafficking. Ironically, it wasn’t through local news or education, but through two Australian friends who visited the Philippines. I began to understand just how vulnerable Filipino children are—especially to online sexual abuse and exploitation (OSAEC), where in most cases, it's even the parents facilitating the abuse. That’s just something that as I learn more about it, it’s something I cannot not do anything. 

What change were you hoping to see in your community?

I wanted children to feel safe- to be able to play, to dream. I wanted families to see that poverty doesn’t mean they are powerless. That even with limited resources, they can raise children who lead, who inspire, and who create lasting change in their communities. I also grew up in a poor community. I saw how my parents worked hard. I hoped to see people with limited opportunities step up and be able to lead.

What has GDG’s support meant to you or your organisation?

GDG has challenged us to be more precise. They've helped us move from broad visions to clear goals with measurable steps. Because of their guidance, we’ve laid out more defined pathways toward our mission—and this has strengthened our impact. GDG helps our work to not just be mere good intentions, but more importantly, real life changing programs.

Can you share an example or a statistic that shows how far the project has come?

We launched the Manila Slum Program in January 2023. It's not just about helping street children return to school; it’s a holistic approach that includes parenting sessions and employment support, especially for mothers, empowering them to become the main advocates for their children’s education.

In our first community alone, we reached 151 families. Out of these, 102 mothers consistently attend our sessions. This is significant because these families don’t even know where to get their next meal. Their attendance shows a real desire to learn and to take their roles as parents seriously.

Of those 102 mothers, 68 have found employment, and 14 have started small businesses.

Since then, we’ve expanded to a second community, and now we’re working with 376 families in total. We are also gearing up to reach a third community soon.

What are you most proud of?

It’s not easy to stay motivated in this kind of work where the problem seems to be always so big, so I’m proud of our team! A lot of our programs and especially dealing with people, we had to learn as we go and that takes a lot of trust with each other, and I’m just so blessed to have the right people working with me. 

I’m proud of the mothers. Many of them grew up on the streets, without education or hope for a different life. At first, it seemed impossible to change their mindset, let alone their lifestyle. But they’re doing it. Again, the ripple effect of that could be huge and has the potential of really breaking the cycle of poverty in these families.

Flo’s story is a strong example of the courage and determination we see in so many of our in-country partners. From the Philippines to Africa, Nepal to Cambodia, these leaders face enormous challenges yet continue to press forward with vision, creativity and heart. Their resilience, combined with the support of generous donors, is creating ripples of transformation that extend far beyond one project or one community.

At GDG, we are honoured to stand alongside leaders like Flo. Local heroes who remind us that lasting change begins when those closest to the challenges are empowered to lead the way.

Impact Snapshot:

👩‍👧 376 families reached

👩 102 mothers attending parenting sessions

💼 68 mothers employed

🛍️ 14 small businesses launched