GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) continues to build the foundation for a better life for the underserved and underprivileged sector with its education-centered initiatives, the Kapuso School Development (KSD) and Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan (UHSK) projects.
This year, GMAKF addresses the pressing need for more suitable learning environments in the earthquake-stricken province of Bohol, where they have begun building new classrooms. With six in Inabanga, four in Sagbayan, six in Carmen and two in San Isidro, a total of 18 new classrooms.
Furthermore, construction work is nearing completion at the Kapuso Village Integrated School in Tacloban, composed of three two-story school buildings with a total of 24 classrooms, within the Kapuso Village Tacloban.
Through the KSD project, GMAKF has already built and rehabilitated a total of 381 classrooms in select public schools nationwide. Part and parcel of this endeavor is a tree planting activity within the school premises as part of the Kapuso ng Kalikasan project.
Meanwhile, 85,000 pupils proudly arrived on the first day of classes sporting new backpacks, each with a complete set of school supplies, from GMAKF’s UHSK project.
UHSK is the foundation’s long-standing education project which distributes school supplies to public elementary schools in remote areas. The backpacks distributed to the children each contains five notebooks, two writing pads, two pencils, a crayon set, sharpener and eraser.
UHSK marked its 19th year with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Ever Gotesco Mall in Quezon City led by GMAKF Executive Vice President Mel C. Tiangco, with the support of its project partners, the Department of Education’s Bureau of Elementary Education, Ever Gotesco Malls and Go Tong Foundation last March.
“Education is a vital tool in combating poverty,” says Tiangco. “By providing these children with the proper learning environment and the necessary material they need in order to go to school, we are planting the seeds for a brighter future for our children.”
Through the invaluable support of the Foundation’s partners and donors, the program has exceeded its initial target of 80,000 beneficiaries for the year which is composed of incoming Kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils from select public schools across the country.