Mila Glodava had shed light on humanity's dark side in her work with mail order brides from the Third World. When it came time to plan her Leadership Impact Project, Mila wanted to do something more uplifting. She envisioned a newsletter linking people all over the world who came from her hometown: Infanta, Quezon, Philippines.

"I established the Metro Infanta Foundation and began to solicit funds in February 1997. We now have a 20-page newsletter which links about 300 people who are from Infanta. We've published 24 editions, and use the newsletter to keep in touch with each other and with Infanta.

"Many of my townmates scattered around the world have the resources to do something positive," Mila continues. "I am hoping to emulate the works of such agencies as the United Way, for the benefit of my hometown. We've raised almost $50,000, and have donated money for computers for the municipal town hall, a medical mission to our area, scholarships for high school students, and for a memorial prayer garden for the Carmelite Mission. We're sending money for televisions for classrooms, and are raising an emergency fund so that we can help out in case of disasters like the flood that hit a town in the area last year.

"I have a new worldwide community from my old home town; we E-mail and write letters all the time. This whole project has been about returning to our roots, honoring the past so that we can be grounded in our own identities."

Mila glows as she speaks. "I felt like a lonely voice in the wilderness until the APAWLI training program. I got affirmation and comfort from the group. The sisters encouraged me to go on. Now I'm using all my gifts."

"Many of my townmates scattered around the world have the resources to do something positive."
-Mila Glodava