Motivated by her experiences during two mission trips to the Philippines, Joanna Maniti found herself in a pivotal moment while addressing her University of Southern California class. As she shared her vision for a theoretical non-profit aimed at assisting homeless children and orphans she had encountered during her journeys, a transformative idea illuminated her mind.
Rather than merely discussing the concept of a non-profit organization to aid the orphans in the archipelago, Joanna made the bold decision to take concrete action. This marked the inception of Cherish Hearts International, an organization she founded to actively address the needs of the vulnerable children she had encountered during her mission trips.
“I had this reflection of, ‘Why haven’t I actually started this during my time at USC?’” Maniti said when she spoke to the Daily Trojan. “Right after the class, I just sent out a bunch of emails to old contacts of mine in the Philippines, and the first person who responded ended up being our first partnership within Cherish.”
In the years 2016 and 2018, Maniti undertook visits to the island of Mindanao, where she was profoundly moved by the plight of unhoused and orphaned children struggling to survive on the streets. Motivated by a deep sense of compassion, she dedicated her time as a volunteer at a children’s ministry. However, as her temporary involvement in the cause concluded, she returned to the United States.
Driven by a desire to make a lasting impact, Maniti made a pivotal decision to pursue a major in business. In the fall of 2020, she enrolled in a class at the University of Southern California (USC) focused on the intricacies of designing and managing non-profit organizations. This academic endeavor became the catalyst for the creation of Cherish Hearts International, an organization aimed at facilitating collaboration with international business stakeholders to identify opportunities for constructing schools and shelters.
The fruition of Maniti’s vision materialized with the opening of the first Cherish Hearts International project—an orphanage—during the summer of 2022 on Mindanao. This facility, comprising four classrooms, two washrooms, and a kitchen, stood as a testament to the collaborative efforts of All the World Outreach and various generous donors.
Despite the significant milestones achieved, Maniti faced an unexpected hurdle. Due to stringent government lockdowns and travel restrictions, she found herself unable to physically visit the orphanage, meet the children residing there, or assess the progress of the educational programs for a staggering three years after the project’s initiation. The challenges posed by external circumstances underscored the resilience and determination required in navigating the complexities of international philanthropy.
“We’ve been trying to take a trip there for the past three years, so being able to go this past year was a milestone for Cherish,” Maniti said. “[The trip] just further showed the need of this project. There are a ton of street children out there who just don’t have homes to go to or family members. It was a lot of emotions at once.”
In an interview with Maniti conducted by Ava Satterfield for the USC newspaper, New Trojan, Maniti expressed a desire to have pursued non-profit work at the undergraduate level. She conveyed the importance of early involvement for anyone interested in such endeavors.
For those seeking to connect regarding donations or collaborations, detailed information about Maniti’s project is accessible, and interested individuals can reach out to her via a message on LinkedIn.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!
True Activist / Report a typo
