There is an island in the Philippines called Camiguin. One of the country’s 7,641 islands, Camiguin is a quarter of the size of King Island, but with almost 60 times more people. It’s known for its abundance of lanzones (a sweet fruit) and the four volcanoes that poke out of the earth like fingers reaching for the heavens. This is where Anna McDougall spent most of her childhood.

Today, Hobart-based Anna, alongside her husband Malcolm, is the founder of Project Philippines Australia Inc (PPAI). This non-profit organisation supports low-income children, families, and com­munity groups in the Philippines, includ­ing those devastated by severe storms.

Anna grew up on the rural Camiguin coast where the main livelihood was farming and fishing. She shared a one-room house made of bamboo and coconut leaves with her parents and six siblings. The absence of running water and electricity meant that fetching water from the river, a three-kilometre trek, was a daily routine. Despite the hardships, Anna recalls growing up being a joyful time surrounded by a loving family, a strong community, and a circle of friends.

Her life changed when her father passed away from throat cancer. At just 14, she left school and moved to the city to work as a maid, where she earned subsist­ence wages, most of which went back to her family. “I was the main financial supporter for my family from my early teens,” she explains. “Life was very hard and difficult, having to work constantly, because my priority was to help my family survive.”

Anna was 23 and working in a bakery when she met her future husband, Malcolm. He was temporarily working in the Philippines for a marine salvage company. That company offered Anna a position as an office assistant and interpreter, which she eagerly accepted for its better pay. During this time, Anna and Malcolm grew close and developed strong feelings for each other. “The rest is history,” she says.

In December 2012, she made the difficult decision to move with Malcolm to his home in Hobart. She had to adjust to living in a totally different country and culture. After spending all her life in the hot, humid Philippines, she was struck by the cold temperatures of Hobart. It was also quieter than she was used to, with less people and traffic. “I was impressed by the great friendliness of those I met, and their welcoming and helpful attitude,” she says.

As Anna was adjusting to her new life, disaster struck her homeland. On 3 November, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan formed, and unleashed fury to Southeast Asia over the following days. It was one of the deadliest tropical storms ever recorded, and caused particular damage to the Philippines, where over 6,300 people were killed. The level of destruction was unimaginable.

Watching her first home country suffer, Anna felt an urgent need to help. That same month, she and Malcolm founded Project Philippines Australia. “The purpose of PPAI was and is to provide essential basic support for schools and hospitals that were destroyed during the Typhoon,” she says. This includes teaching and learning materials, medical supplies, bedding, and building materials.

Over the years, PPAI has made a signifi­cant impact in the Philippines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they distributed protective masks to help children return to school safely. They’ve launched school meal programs, provided learning materi­als, and supplied clothing to low-income schools. Their support has extended to hospital maternity wards with linens and baby incubators, life jackets for fisher­men in coastal villages, and repairs to storm-damaged fishing boats.

It’s been over a decade since Anna started PPAI, and she continues to nurture its growth. “In addition to increasing the number of disadvantaged children and communities we assist,” she says, “we are also seeking to ensure that such assistance is of the highest quality possible. We do not just want to assist low income, disadvantaged communities during times of crisis, but also all year round during normal times.”

From the shores of Camiguin to the noble endeavours of PPAI, Anna’s story is one of resilience and personal sacrifice. “I value the great support and acceptance of Malcolm’s family, my many friends, and the Filipino Community in Hobart and Tasmania. Although I come from a very poor family in the Philippines, they were only economically poor. They are very rich in their hearts and in the warm and kind ways in which they interacted and cared for each other.

“From the bottom of my heart I thank you all. You have helped me grow as a person and make the most of my life,” she says.

You can follow Anna’s quest, and help donate, at the Project Philippines Australia PPAI Facebook page.