Born to poor and uneducated parents, Dr Rizsa Albarracin grew up in a remote and impoverished village in a tropical jungle in the Philippines. Her childhood years were filled with struggles for survival. Her village lacked basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, medical clinic, and schools. Despite these, she was determined to get an education. In her primary school days, she walked over 10 kilometres everyday through the jungle, often barefoot, to attend a school, which was significantly under-resourced. At the age of 12, she left home to attend high school in a nearby town where she supported herself by working as a maidservant. Her diligence and hard work granted the opportunity to work and study abroad (Australia and New Zealand), while continuing to provide support for her family and the wider community back in the Philippines.

Through sheer determination, faith, courage, and diligence, Rizsa trekked her way out of poverty and now devotes her time to improving the lives of many disadvantaged children and marginalised communities in the Philippines and in other parts of the world, such as India and Africa. She is actively involved in managing the Shepherd’s Arms Children’s Home, a not-for-profit charity that cares for children that are neglected, abused, orphaned, or abandoned in Bohol, Philippines. Over the years, she has also built a small medical clinic, established self-sustainable projects, libraries, scholarship programs, and community support initiatives.

Rizsa currently works for Queensland Health and is also affiliated with the University of Queensland. She also sits on the Management Committee of the Humanitarian Projects International Inc., a not-for-profit charity that exists to bring hope and a future to orphans and other underprivileged people of the world.