Last Tuesday’s meeting, on 5 May 2026, held at Grace’s Place, featured Amina Evangelista Swanepoel, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Roots of Health and Maria Sophia Ariola. Rotary Club of Blacktown City welcomed to the meeting Officers of the Philippine Consulate headed by Consul Marianne Bringas, the Rotary Club of Burwood led by President John Kane and other Rotary Clubs, Inner Wheel Club of Blacktown City, AFWomen, Kababaihang Rizalista, Blacktown Ponds Lions, HWPL, Philippine Times and guests from the Australian Filipino community.
Amina and Maria Sophia offered a comprehensive picture of Roots of Health, from its beginnings with founder Dr. Susan Evangelista, through 17 years of growth, to the programs they deliver to date.
Roots of Health and their programs are well structured, strategic, and data driven, identifying the gaps in the community and have established monitoring and results evaluation system. They are well connected with the community as well as government agencies and NGOs. A Rotary Foundation global grant through Walter Bock and Rotary Club of Burwood, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa Central, is their first collaboration with Rotary, with the program ‘Protecting Dreams Project.’
Attendees commented that the work of Roots of Health is truly revolutionary, offering real hope and tangible change for communities across the Philippines.
President Tess C Sayas introduction of Amina Swanepoel:
Rotary Club of Blacktown City is pleased to host Amina Swanepoel, the co-founder and Executive Director and Maria Sophia Ariola from the Roots of Health in the Philippines. The meeting is also supported by Australian Filipino Women’s Support Network – AFWomen (AFWomen), their advocacy of supporting women aligns very close with Roots of Health
We also acknowledge Walter Bock and the Rotary Club of Burwood for introducing Amina to the Rotary Club of Blacktown City.
I would like to start with concerning statistics. The Philippines is among the countries with the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Asia, with over 500 girls aged 15–19 giving birth each day. Pregnancies among very young adolescents (aged 10–14) are disturbingly rising. These alarming statistics are mostly linked to poverty, limited access to reproductive health services, inadequate sex education, and sexual abuse.
These statistics are not only numbers, they result to socio-economic disadvantage, limited opportunities for healthier and secure future, a vicious cycle of poverty and disadvantage, a cycle that needs to be broken. Tonight is about breaking the cycle with Roots of Health.
I wish to highlight 2 posts from the facebook page of Roots of Health. In one post titled ‘Pushing Boundaries, Growing Together,’ encouraging milestones are reported. Root of Health declares that their milestones aren’t just statistics. ‘They’re clear signals that change is taking root, and that collective effort truly makes a difference. The groundwork is set to take even bolder steps in 2026!’
In another post, Roots of Health stated that ‘Most sex education leaves someone out. When parents and teachers aren’t equipped to talk about reproductive health, the conversation stops before it even begins. This leaves young people to navigate misinformation, stigma, risk, and decision-making on their own. The Protecting Dreams Project of Roots of Health and Rotary Club brings everyone in. Because young people don’t learn in isolation. When adults are informed and confident, conversations open and futures are protected.’ Roots of Health states ‘This is what real sex education can look like. Bringing everyone in.’
Roots of Health is breaking taboos, starting conversations, supporting underserved communities, breaking barriers and cycles, by bringing everyone in. The young, the parents, the teachers, the communities, government agencies, NGOs, service organisations.
Roots of Health in the Philippines was founded by Dr. Susan Evangelista and her daughter Amina Evangelista Swanepoel in 2009. By women for women and have grown to include wider communities. The Mother Daughter team, bold, compassionate, visionary, and strategic, who inspire and motivate from vision to action.
The vision, ‘Self reliant women, young people and families leading healthy reproductive lives and building stronger socio-economic futures across the Philippines.’ Let’s welcome Amina to bring us into the vision.
