Program H.E.L.P
Help End Learning Poverty

In the Learning Poverty Brief released by the World Bank in 2022, the Philippines ranks high in learning poverty in Asia at 90.5%. This can be attributed to several factors including poor quality of education, socio-economic factors, etc., which were most likely intensified by the recent Covid-19 pandemic. As a response to this pressing need, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao’s Center For Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) launched Project H.E.L.P.: Help End Learning Poverty last September 22, 2023 at Langub Elementary School. Beyond its role as a reading intervention, the project served as a formal study, evaluating the effectiveness of both the crafted instructional materials and the delivery of the sessions. 

Project H.E.L.P. , in addition to being a reading intervention initiative, also serves as a study in order to find out the effectivity of the materials and the conduct of the sessions. 

During its debut year, Project H.E.L.P. focused its efforts on sharpening the  learning skills of primary learners at Langub Elementary School. Through bi-monthly sessions held throughout the academic year, volunteers worked closely with the students in Grades 1 to 3 to build a stronger foundation in reading. 

Building on its initial success, the project evolved into a formal program for its second year. This phase expanded the footprint of the program to the kindergarten pupils of New Matina Elementary School. 

In its third year, Program H.E.L.P. hit a pivotal turning point. Drawing on the insights gathered from its debut run and reinforcing them with findings from the second, the strategy was refined to focus on the most critical early years, particularly, kindergarten and first grade. Furthermore, the program extended its reach to a new community, welcoming the kindergarten students of R.C. Quimpo Elementary School to the initiative.  

As we move forward, we are committed to scaling this initiative to reach additional schools in need of support. Beyond our own efforts, we are actively seeking partnerships with institutions and companies that can champion the program, allowing us to broaden our impact and serve even more of our young learners.