A project to rebuild hope
Our journey began in 2013, when Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines. This country is home to many of our seafarers. That disaster showed us the power of solidarity and how even a small act of help can change lives. Since then, the needs of seafarers and their families have evolved.
That’s why we established a foundation in 2013.
In 2025, we have decided to create a new fund with the aim of offering broader and more flexible support to the global seafaring community.
The following story is an example of what we have achieved with our old foundation.
School reconstruction in Palompon, Leyte.
Following the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines, the MFSG Seafarers' Fund and Royal Wagenborg explored ways to help affected communities recover. After careful consideration, we decided to focus on rebuilding schools — a long-term investment in education and community resilience.
Our joint initiative supports the rehabilitation of Palompon National High School in Brgy Central II, Palompon, Leyte. The school, which has over 700 pupils, suffered extensive damage: entire roof panels were torn off, windows and frames were destroyed, and much of the furniture, school materials and books were lost. While some buildings remained structurally intact, others were completely demolished.
Despite these challenges, the school administration has made every effort to continue classes, even holding them under tents or in roofless classrooms, demonstrating remarkable dedication to ensuring an uninterrupted education.
Our mission: Restoring quality education.
The project's main objective was to ensure that students could return to a safe, well-equipped and comfortable learning environment in time for the start of the new school year. This includes:
- fully roofed and ventilated classrooms
- new chairs, desks and educational materials;
- a conducive atmosphere for learning and growth.
By restoring the school, we aimed to rebuild infrastructure and restore hope and opportunity for the young people of Palompon.
Project Completion: A New Chapter Begins
The reconstruction of Palompon National High School was successfully completed on 21 July. The buildings have been restored and furnished, and are ready to welcome students and teachers once again.
This project marks a significant step towards typhoon recovery in the Philippines, reflecting our ongoing commitment to supporting education and community development.
This is where we’ll soon start sharing real stories from the people and projects we support around the world. Personal journeys, local impact, and hopeful change – all made possible together. Stay tuned.