<div><strong>"When we educate children, we break the cycle of poverty in just one generation." - Desmond Tutu</strong>
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<div>My name is Trisha Velarmino, and I grew up in Subic Bay — land that once belonged to the Aeta peoples before it was taken during the American colonial period.
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<div>Growing up here, I saw firsthand how indigenous communities were displaced and how their children often lacked access to quality education.
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<div>That is why I founded <strong>Borderless Future</strong>s: a child-led education program dedicated to the Aeta children.
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<div>Our mission is simple but powerful — <strong>to give these children the tools to thrive, not just academically, but in life</strong>. We design learning spaces that honor their culture, nurture curiosity, and build resilience.
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<div>They have a public school but the education is very poor. The Philippines is widely acknowledged to be in a severe education crisis.
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<div>We are monitoring the schooling of the girls for many years so this is not a one-time project. We work with them closely through the years!
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<div>2 of our projects that might interest you are:
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<li><strong>Girls Not Moms</strong> challenges the expectation that girls should grow up only to become mothers. By creating opportunities for education, skills, and choice, we aim to shift cultural programming and open new paths for young girls.
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<li><strong>Borderless Futures</strong> is a worldschooling program created for Aeta children, designed to open their eyes to the wider world and the many benefits of experiential learning. Our goal is to bridge the gap between their local realities and global opportunities, so they can see beyond traditional expectations and discover new paths for themselves.
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<div>Most donations that reach the Aeta communities are <strong>short‑term relief </strong>— sacks of rice, canned goods, and instant food. 
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<div>While these help families survive in the moment, they often come at the cost of health and sustainability. 
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<div><strong>What the children truly need is not just temporary aid, but access to education that can break the cycle of poverty.</strong> 
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<div>By investing in learning, we give Aeta kids the chance to build skills, preserve their culture, and create futures where they no longer depend on handouts, but thrive with dignity and opportunity.
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<div>If you'd like to know more about my work, you can Google my name, 'Trisha Velarmino.'
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<div>We also have a public excel sheet where we show all the expenses with receipts!
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