By: Noelle Hui
Some of the most important lessons happen far from a blackboard. They happen on a smartphone during a domestic worker’s day off, in a Monday tuition class for a teen who left school, or in a community hub where a student uses a laptop for the first time. This month, we’re shining a light on four partners who each take a different route to the same destination: making sure learning reaches the people it’s most likely to miss.
And PS – If you’re looking to support education as a volunteer, all the more reason to check out our list. Whether your hour goes to tutoring, mentoring or helping a community get connected, there’s a classroom out there that needs you. Visit theonehourproject.com to get started.
- Liwanag at Dunong
Tarlac, Philippines
Liwanag at Dunong works in solidarity with the Aeta community of Sitio Kalangitan in Capas, Tarlac, clearing the path to learning through a community-built learning center and steady presence on the ground. Their motto, Edukasyon Para sa Lahat, sums up the mission: education for all, starting with access.
You can find them at facebook.com/LiwanagAtDunongProject and @liwanagatdunong.
- Project Starfish
Singapore
Run by Society of Starfish Singapore, Project Starfish offers free tuition to youth who have left the formal school system, entirely run by volunteers since it began in 2015. Volunteer teachers help students prepare for their GCE ‘N’ Level exams. So far, more than 400 out-of-school youth have been through the programme.
You can find them at starfishsingapore.org and @projectstarfishsg.
- Create Foundation
Quezon City, Philippines
Create Foundation champions digital inclusion, tackling internet poverty, low computer ownership and limited digital literacy. Through community-based Create Hubs from Zambales to Basilan and laptop and internet grants, they’re making sure no Filipino learner gets left offline.
You can find them at createfoundation.ph.
- Uplifters
Hong Kong and Singapore
Uplifters brings free online courses and peer support to migrant domestic workers across Asia and the Middle East, designed to run on a smartphone. More than 11,000 learners have enrolled since 2018, and graduates go on to coach new students.
You can find them at uplifters-edu.org.
