Members of IHHELP aim to provide enhanced living conditions for people living in the typhoon-battered region of the Philippines.
Before they founded IHHELP, Bishop Paul Staples of the Laie YSA 4th Ward and his wife Lolita met regularly with Gene and Rene Doria, a couple from Utah, to discuss poverty and think of solutions for ending it. Eventually the discussions weren't enough, and the two couples found themselves in the Philippines, putting their plans into action.
From the experiences they had there in 2012, they developed the organization today known as IHHELP: Improving Health, Housing, Education and Livelihood of the Poor in the Philippines.
“The real purpose of it all is to help and assist the poor and needy, to give them a boost or advantage, and to level the playing field by giving everyone a chance,” said BYU–Hawaii’s Kit Nadado, who is Filipino and writes a newsletter for IHHELP. “It promotes self-reliance, and gives them the opportunity to raise themselves from poverty. Most of the project of IHHELP is really meant to help and give integrity.”
President of IHHELP, Rene Doria, and Vice President Paul Staples, who owns his own real estate company called Staples Realty, oversee matters regarding housing and livelihood. They recently returned from a trip to China where they met with a company who they are hoping will be able to supply them with needed machinery. Staples said the next phase for IHHELP is to provide a factory that can produce SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels).
These are disaster-resistant building materials better suited for weathering frequent typhoons in that region of the world. According to Staples, people build homes with whatever they can find in the poor neighborhoods of the Philippines. “It's crazy,” said Staples. “People lose their homes, and then they build them again using the same material.”
Gene Doria and Lolita Staples focus on the education and health aspect of IHHELP. Staples said the current plan is to construct a private LDS standards school, which is connected with a trade school to teach students how to make SIPs.
“We want to pattern the school after BYU–Hawaii, but instead of the PCC, have a trade school where they make windows and panels,” said Staples. “Students will be able to come learn the trade, get an education, and have a job. I want to see the best disaster-proof homes in the world come out of the Philippines.”
Nadado stated, “I was in Bishop Staples’ ward when I heard the plan of building a private LDS standards school. I was a TESOL major minoring in English, and they were in need of a newsletter writer, so that's how I got involved. Bishop Staples is a little tough on us, but we need it. He leads in a way that makes us want to improve.”
In addition to this progression of future plans for both IHHELP and the Filipino people, the Attorney General of Utah, Sean Reyes, declared Dec. 4 “IHHELP Day.” A ceremonial gala will be held in its honor.
Staples said through his profession as a licensed real estate broker in both Hawaii and Illinois, he hopes to generate more funds and ways to support IHHELP. He is offering the option for clients to make a tax deductible donation in lieu of commission—more information can be found at www.paulstaples.com.
IHHELP functions with the help of volunteers and student volunteers from both BYU in Provo and BYU–Hawaii.