Young Focus has a strong passion for disadvantaged children who have dropped out of school, wanting to give every child - from the Smokey Mountain squatter area in Manila - the chance to discover and develop their talents, as well as recapture their love for learning. Young Focus 'Catch-UP' provides opportunities for school dropouts to go back to school through different programs, depending on age and academic level. The goal is that after a year they are ready to go to a regular school.
Family circumstances, extreme poverty, social issues, peer pressure and parents lacking education themselves are some of the reasons why children drop out of school in the impoverished communities of Manila. Without schooling these children remain uneducated, and have no chance of developing their talents, building a future, and pursuing a career when they become adults.
All the children receive a basic education that will eventually qualify them to continue their education at a regular school. Also, once they enroll at a regular school, they will receive ongoing support and coaching from Young Focus.
The long-term impact of education on these children is that they will become young adults who can study for a 'normal' career, breaking the vicious cycle of poverty. Many of them grow up in the 'garbage industry', where scavenging through waste materials is the main source of income. Graduating from college or university enables them to find a good job, and helps provide for a better future.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
