It seems fitting, now in retrospect, that we celebrate our founding anniversary in the month of November, a month when Thanksgiving is celebrated in the USA.
Five years ago, we set out to pursue a dream of providing our underserved youth - in the Philippines and the US - with increased access to education.
As we celebrate our 5th anniversary, we are beginning to see that, indeed, access leads to success!
In the Philippines:
Our three college scholars overcome the challenges of poverty and continue to deliver excellent grades.
At the Baruyan Elementary School (BES), our Volleyball team of 16 girls placed 2nd in a recent regional competition!
The following programs are now entrenched at BES, yielding optimism, confidence and strength among the students, teachers and parents:
Financial aid: 20 students for school supplies and basic necessities
Library program: enabling 50 students each day to study and improve literacy
Athletics Programs: Basketball for 14 boys ; Volleyball for 16 girls.
Arts Programs: 20 students participating in visual arts; 40 in performing arts
Feeding program: 22 students get served free hot lunches at school
Outstanding Teacher Awards: the annual “Lito Cantos Award” 2 outstanding teachers are selected and awarded with laptops
Partnership with other NGOs: We’ve sustained and grown our partnerships with other civic organizations within the US and the Philippines; they have helped provide and distribute books and other educational materials to BES.
In the USA:
The Unlad Scholarship Fund at the Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC), continues to provide access to the underserved youth in our community through financial aid for skills training that will lead to employment. This can cover tuition fees, books, supplies, even transportation and related living expenses necessary for the student to attend and complete the coursework.
At Live Arts, a performing arts theater organization in our hometown of Charlottesville, we are supporting a pilot program that will provide dance and theater classes with the Boys & Girls Club.
Coming soon: We are building a High-School!
We hope we can break ground in Spring, 2025! Tirelessly working with the Philippine local government and education department, we will build a high-school in Baruyan, near BES, so students can simply walk to school. In March, 2023, Terry donated the land upon which the high school will be built; and while this is a personal commitment for Terry to honor her parents from whom she inherited the land, we plan to incorporate UNLAD’s mission and our learnings as we move forward.
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“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. Let our hopes shape our future”.
We are GRATEFUL and HOPEFUL.