A Co Fermanagh man has said he felt a duty to help those less fortunate in a remote island in the Phillipines after a visit to the area.
Freddie Parkinson from Brookeborough runs Fermanagh Clothing Aid, which supplies clothes and other essentials to those living in Babuyan.
Freddie’s partner Grace hails from the area but now lives and works in Co Fermanagh, and Freddie says a visit there a number of years ago encouraged him to do what he could to help those in need.
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“The people of Fermanagh have been more than generous since we started doing it,” Freddie said.
“It was through other charity work that I met Grace and she’s from the island originally.
“I went there with her in 2017 to visit and she showed me around. It’s not easy there but we do what we can to help them.
“They work in rice fields and their income is very small, they only earn on average around £100 a week and in many areas, they wouldn’t even earn that.
“And the cost to them to buy a pair of shoes is the same as what it would be here. And because of where they are it actually costs them a lot just to travel to the mainland too. You’re talking about a four day journey for them.”
Freddie said many of the items we would often throw away here could end up saving the lives of people on the island.
“They have been in need of a lot of stuff so I gather up supplies and donations for them and we send them out.
“It has made a great difference to them, we have sent some tools out which help the men and women do their jobs a bit quicker so they can make a bit more money for themselves.
“It’s amazing what a few tools or a pair of wellies can do for these people.
“People have to go through forests and they have to deal with deadly snakes and things like that, many of them do it barefoot so a pair of wellies can literally save their life.”
Among the items, Freddie is looking for at the moment to send out on his next shipment to the area are leather shoes for children.
If you would like to donate any items you can get in touch with Freddie via the Fermanagh Clothing Aid Helping Hands Facebook page.
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