Filipino students learn under the most difficult of circumstances. The Philippine government’s budget for education is not enough to provide for adequate educational facilities and other learning resources. This is why only a handful of Filipino students are given the privilege of a college education, as only a small minority are able to afford one.

Meanwhile, the Internet is becoming increasingly important in our day-to-day activities, as it opens doors to a wealth of information and resources. Access to information has become a basic necessity, not a luxury. Companies have raised the bar for new hires, requiring proof of Internet literacy as part of the minimum qualifications. Sadly, the Philippine government remains heavily burdened by the task of improving on even more basic resource shortages in the educational system.

Today, public high school students hardly have any access to computers in their schools, thus suffering the risk of being ill equipped in a world that is gradually becoming more digital. The future of the nation lies in its ability to harness the potentials of its youth.

GILAS aims to provide Internet access to all public secondary school students in the Philippines, thus giving them an opportunity to a brighter future.

Books for disadvantaged Children in Mindanao

The conflict in Mindanao has impeded important development efforts in the region, and improving access to quality education and enhancing literacy are fundamental to long-term peace and development. School-aged children in Mindanao suffer the most when violence escalates.
Due to funding constraints, conflict, and poverty, these children have historically lacked books and other educational materials. The Asia Foundation (TAF) is currently supporting a variety of activities, utilizing its on-the-ground presence to help identify representatives from the private sector, civil society, and government to work together toward peace and development in the region.

With a $30,000 contribution, TAF’s Books for Asia (BFA) program will be able make three shipments of 141,000 high-quality books and other reading materials, valued at $5.4 million and distribute them in the province of South Cotabato, Mindanao. A total of 365,000 children and youth in 500 to 600 elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and public libraries will benefit from this effort.
Although TAF has distributed books to Mindanao in the past, this would be the first shipment to reach the province of South Cotabato, which is a mixed Muslim-Christian area within the conflict-affected region of Mindanao. TAF staff will select and package the books to be shipped from TAF’s office in Manila to the Mindanao region, hire local day laborers within South Cotabato to help sort and deliver the books to the schools and institutions, and travel to the region to monitor the appropriate receipt and usage of the materials.
The funds will also enable BFA to organize book fairs, contests, and provide training and support to local libraries and communities. Moreover, this project will provide critical educational resources to this disadvantaged region, providing better access to information for thousands of area residents, helping to empower communities, and contributing to overall peace and development of Mindanao.

This is part of a larger initiative to create peace and build educational resources in the region. In order to provide local communities with easy access to reading materials, the BFA program also contributes over 60,000 books per year to daycare centers and to public and private educational centers in Mindanao. The program is made possible through the donations of new, high-quality books by American publishers through the BFA program. Shipments and distribution of books within the Philippines are made possible through partnerships with individuals, local governments, academic institutions, and NGOs in Mindanao.

Approximate costs:

A contribution of $30,000 will enable 141,000 high-quality books and other reading materials to be shipped and distributed to 365,000 students in disadvantaged schools and communities in the province of South Cotabato, Mindanao. This contribution amount will also enable BFA to organize book fairs, contests, and provide training and support to local libraries and communities.