Flashback to the Cebu Impact Project
Presidio Education® team members hand-deliver new backpacks filled with school supplies for all 92 Adlaon Integrated School first graders in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.
A Call to Compassion and Action: Cebu Impact Project
In the summer of 2018, Presidio Education® embarked on a mission to Cebu City, Philippines, to support children facing extreme poverty. Our team distributed 280 backpacks filled with school supplies to first graders at Hipodromo Elementary School and Adlaon Integrated School. These children, many of whom live in makeshift homes in cemeteries, often lack basic necessities like pencils or even sandals. Yet, despite these hardships, they radiate joy, hope, and resilience.
The Reality of Poverty in Cebu
The families we encountered in Cebu live far below the poverty line. Many are forced to construct homes in mausoleums, lacking running water, proper sanitation, and protection from the elements. These conditions expose them to health risks and crime, making daily survival a challenge. For these children, education is a distant dream, and the resources to pursue it are scarce.
After driving hours into the jungle, Presidio Education® faculty hand out new backpacks filled with school supplies to happy Adlaon Integrated School first graders. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.
The Power of Presence
While financial donations are crucial, our team learned that time and personal connection are equally valuable. Volunteering to spend time with these children—playing, listening, and showing that they are cared for—has a profound impact. It is a reminder that compassion and empathy can bridge the gap between privilege and poverty.
Protecting Impoverished and Abandoned Children
While financial donations are essential to sustain academic programs for underprivileged youth, nothing compares to the impact of showing up in person. Donating your time—playing, learning, and simply being present with these children—offers a kind of emotional support that money alone cannot provide.
At Presidio Education®, our faculty, staff, and college interns regularly volunteer with orphans and abandoned children. These visits are often emotionally intense. The heartbreak stays with us long after we leave. But that lasting impression is also what drives our continued commitment—and why we need your help.
When we come together as a community, we can remind these children that they are not forgotten. We can restore hope by showing them that there is still deep compassion in the world. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provides additional guidance for those interested in helping vulnerable children.
There is nothing more devastating than a child growing up without support. Let’s change that—together.
Adlaon Integrated School first grade girls eagerly looking inside their new Presidio Education® backpacks. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.
Our Commitment to Sustainable Change
At Presidio Education®, we are committed to addressing the root causes of poverty through sustainable initiatives. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide our efforts, particularly Goal 4: Quality Education. By providing educational resources and support, we aim to empower these children and break the cycle of poverty.
How You Can Make a Difference
We invite our students, parents, and community members to reflect on the privileges they hold and consider how they can use those privileges to uplift others. Volunteering time, donating resources, or simply offering a kind word can have a profound impact on individuals and communities in need.
If you are interested in joining our efforts or learning more about how you can contribute, please contact our Sustainability Team. Together, we can create a more compassionate and equitable world.
Summer 2018 Presidio Education® Cebu Impact Project in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. After receiving handpicked backpacks filled with school supplies, under-resourced Adlaon Integrated School first graders excitedly surround part of the Presidio Education® faculty to say goodbye. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.
Fighting Child Poverty
Every child deserves access to basic necessities—nutritious food, clean water, safe shelter, and medical care. Yet for many children around the world, including in Cebu, these fundamental rights remain heartbreakingly out of reach.
At Hipodromo Elementary School, some families live in nearby cemeteries because they have nowhere else to go. Their “homes” are makeshift structures built on top of mausoleums, often covered only with plastic tarps to shield against the rain and wind. Without proper walls, doors, or plumbing, these families face daily exposure to illness, extreme weather, and the constant threat of crime.
Despite these incredibly difficult conditions, the families we met showed remarkable warmth and strength. But resilience alone is not enough. No family—especially not one with young children—should be left to survive without protection, dignity, or support.
While global organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) continue their work to improve public health systems, real and lasting change also depends on individuals like us. We cannot wait for solutions to come from afar. We must each ask: What can I do today to help a child live with more safety, health, and hope?
Whether you donate supplies, volunteer your time, or help raise awareness, your actions matter. Child poverty will persist unless we choose to act with purpose and compassion.
Families inside their makeshift home in a mausoleum within the Chinese Cemetery in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, welcoming the Presidio Education® team. Many Hipodromo Elementary School children and their families have no choice but to construct makeshift homes in these mausoleums due to extreme poverty. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.
A Story from Our Cebuano Faculty Member Kenley Lou
Growing up in Cebu enabled me to observe various societal problems, including gaps in educational opportunities, access to public health and the increasing poverty rates. Despite these challenges, Cebuanos are very close-knit. Rooted on bayanihan, which means the spirit of helping and cooperating with each other, locals have a strong sense of community for no personal benefit. Despite the relatively low standards of living in Cebu and an evident income gap, locals never forget to be happy and grateful.
In the past five years, the Philippine education system was revised to a twelve-year curriculum to match international standards. Due to the lack of financial resources from the government, the public school system experiences insufficient facilities, which negatively impacts student growth and understanding of STEM subjects. Moreover, there is limited access to quality education through private and international schools, which are often unaffordable for families far below the poverty line.
The Cebu Impact Project is a project close to heart. Through this project, we were able to make a positive impact in the lives of 280 first grade students. The joy of being able to reach out and give back to my own community is very humbling. Providing school supplies and backpacks goes beyond giving students the right tools to start school. The children know we really care for them.
Vast improvements with funding for healthcare and education sectors are needed. Due to restrictions with government funding and family finances, many Filipino children do not have access to good medical care and vaccinations. In larger families only some of the children are able to receive primary and secondary education. Older siblings are frequently forced to sacrifice obtaining an education to take care of younger siblings. School administrations and local government officials try their best to assist under-resourced children.
Hipodromo Health Clinic Nurse Charlyn Leyson conducts health checks on a young child in Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.
Your Ideas, Their Future: Join the Movement
To learn more about what we witnessed and experienced during our trip to Cebu, we invite you to read our short story detailing the challenges and lessons that moved us. The Cebu Impact Project was truly a team effort—made possible by the compassion, creativity, and commitment of every person involved. If you're inspired to make a difference, we warmly encourage you to contact our Sustainability Team to explore how you can support children living in extreme poverty. Every effort counts, and your involvement could change a child’s life. Thank you for being part of the solution.
Ready to Make a Real Impact?
At Presidio Education®, we believe that education and empathy go hand in hand. Our Sustainability Team is always looking for passionate students, families, and community members who are ready to step up and take meaningful action.
Whether you're a high school student eager to make a difference, a parent who wants to set an example, or a leader with resources to share—we welcome your voice, your time, and your heart. From organizing supply drives to joining us on the ground for future Impact Projects, there are so many ways to get involved.
This isn’t just about checking a box for community service hours. It’s about learning what it truly means to serve others—and how small acts of kindness can create global waves of change.
🌍 Let’s work together to build safer, healthier, and more hopeful futures for children and families around the world.
Contact our Sustainability Team today to take the first step.
