The Issue
Poverty in the Philippines is widespread and often prevents children from fully participating in school, completing assignments, or even remaining in school at all. It also contributes to malnutrition, which can have both immediate and long-term impacts on a child’s health, development, and overall well-being.
Providing access to essential educational resources and nutritious food are two critical ways we help support children in the Philippines in reaching their full potential.
Education
Providing school supplies to children in the Philippines helps ensure they have the essential tools needed to learn, increasing their ability to participate fully in school, stay enrolled, and succeed academically. It also helps address the economic pressures that can force many children to prioritize work over education.
Access to basic school supplies is fundamental to learning. Without them, children often struggle to complete assignments, engage in classroom activities, or keep pace with their peers.
For many families, the cost of school supplies represents a significant financial burden. This hardship can contribute to absenteeism or even school dropout, as parents may be unable to afford the basic materials required for attendance.
When children are properly equipped, they are more likely to perform better academically, build confidence, and develop their full potential in and outside the classroom.
Ultimately, access to education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. Providing school supplies helps remove a key barrier, giving children a stronger opportunity to learn, grow, and improve their future prospects.
Food
Food insecurity remains widespread in many communities across the Philippines, where access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food is not consistently guaranteed. This ongoing challenge increases the risk of poor health outcomes and can have lasting effects on a child’s learning, development, productivity, and overall physical and mental well-being, as well as on family stability.
In 2024, an estimated 44.7% of Filipinos, including children, experienced moderate to severe food and nutrition insecurity. Among children under five, 28.8% were affected by stunting (low height for age), a rate higher than the global average.
Stunting is a form of chronic malnutrition caused by prolonged insufficient nutrient intake, which impairs growth and development. Malnutrition can also present in other forms, including wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age), and deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. In addition, poor nutrition is linked to a higher risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases later in life, such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.