On 29 August, representatives from Virlanie Foundation, Inc. namely Ms. Cynthia Huet, President, Ms. Arlyne A. Fernandez, Executive Director, and Ms. Chezsana Marie Ebot, Communications Manager, attended the George S.K Ty Grants Turnover at Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig with the theme “Engaging Partnerships, Empowering Communities.” Thirty-two development partners of Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) and GT Foundation Inc. (GTFI) have received PhP 40 million worth of grants and one of them is Virlanie Foundation Philippines. This turnover honors organizations with the collective goal of empowering communities to address challenges in the areas of health, education, arts, culture, and livelihood.
One of the interventions that MBFI and GTFI are supporting is ensuring access to quality education and this is exactly the work the Virlanie’s Street Program does through one of its projects called Walk Your Way to School (WAYS) that started in 2015 and would not be possible without the efforts exerted by the program’s Mobile Unit (MU). WAYS prepares children to either enter, resume, or pursue formal or informal education through the Alternative Learning System in various ways such as supporting them in acquiring their primary education, providing them with administrative support, and offering educational assistance. It also gives children, youth, and their families access to basic rights particularly healthcare, food, water, and shelter. During the turnover, the MBFI education grantees are presented by the president of Moreta Shipping, Mr. Segundo Moreno.
Everyone at Virlanie, especially the people who are the backbone of the Street Program and the WAYS project are beyond grateful for the privilege of receiving this grant as this is a significant contribution to sustaining the WAYS project and Virlanie’s mission of empowering children and families to break free from the hardships of street life. Through the Metrobank Foundation, Virlanie paves the way for more children to be integrated with educational systems they rightfully deserve
