Hindsight is 20/20.

Growing up in the Philippines, I remember waking up to my bedroom flooded. I remember my aunt carrying me across a road that had turned into a river overnight. At the time, I thought it was normal. I thought that’s just how life was. But after living in Canada and Amsterdam for the past 11 years, I now realize that it wasn’t normal. It was the direct result of a worsening climate.

Even though I grew up experiencing a small part of the floods myself, I recognize that I represent the lucky few. I had access to a support system that enabled me to move away from the floods. They believed and facilitated my education without hesitation. With their encouragement, I received a way out. I was able to explore the world, build meaningful friendships, and embrace opportunities across Canada and the Netherlands. The experiences and lessons I've gained through my family and the friends I met along the way, continue to shape who I am today. I am forever grateful.

Every child deserves that same chance. But for tens of millions of children living in the Philippines, that chance is slipping away. Every time there is a cyclone, every time there is a typhoon, schools are destroyed. Textbooks are washed away. Gymnasiums still standing are turned into relief goods packaging sites. Student learning is paused.

150 Days of Learning Lost. Every Year.

In 2024, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) reported that in the Philippines, children lose up to 150 learning days each year to typhoons and floods. Roughly half the school year gone. And as climate change intensifies, these storms are becoming more frequent and more destructive. Classrooms are turned into evacuation centers. Schoolyards are turned into flood zones.

The long-term impacts of severe weather caused by climate change

Millions of children are being left behind. Over 71% of Filipino children are struggling with basic reading and writing, with over 70 percent falling below expected performance levels. By the time they reach Grade 3, most are already one to two years behind. By high school, they’re behind their global peers by as much as five to six years in basic math and literacy (EDCOM II). These are not just statistics. These are children with dreams, potential, and futures. These children represent the future of my home country. These children need to be taught the critical thinking and adaptability they need to prepare for incoming floods.

The heartbreaking truth? We know what works.

The system isn’t failing because we don’t know what to do. The government has policies for mother tongue instruction, catch-up programs, and community partnerships. But implementation fails at the last mile. Teachers are overwhelmed on paperwork. Promised textbooks do not arrive. Funds dry up. Children fail out of the existing systems. Learning stops.

How can we help?

I recently got into contact with Jaton Zulueta (About Jaton). His organization, AHA! Learning Center, focuses on providing education to the most flood-prone communities living in the poorest regions of the Philippines (About AHA). Through him, I learned that we can make a difference. We can help build a future of sustainable learning for all children.

What are we working towards?

0 - 2,500 euros: Provide learning kits and education support for students in flood-prone communities

2,500 - 5,000 euros: Fund teacher salary supplements in flood-prone communities

5,000 - 7,500 euros: Establish a temporary learning space in a flood-prone area and train teachers in Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL)

7,500 - 10,000+ Euros: Begin building climate-resilient learning hubs & spaces

This is where you come in

With your support, we can help AHA expand its reach to more communities. We can keep education going even when schools close. We can use our resources to help children adapt to a changing climate through education.

Children deserve climate-resilient learning. Together, we can help make a difference. We can make sure no child is left behind.