BrightFuture: comprehensive scholarships to nurture potential

The Need

Project PEARLS aims to address educational disparities among children in underprivileged communities in the Philippines through our Educational Scholarship Grant initiative. These children face significant barriers to quality education due to financial constraints, limited resources, and the effects of systemic poverty.

The Project We Fund

The Project PEARLS Scholarship Program supports underprivileged children in the Philippines by covering essential educational expenses, including tuition, uniforms, books, and transportation. Beyond financial aid, the program provides health and nutrition services, mentoring, tutoring, and personal development workshops to ensure students’ overall well-being and academic success. This focused initiative is a key component of Project PEARLS’ broader mission to provide accessible, quality education and holistic support to children in impoverished communities. Your funding is vital to advancing this impactful program.

The Result

To track progress, the team will:

Data Collection and Analysis:
– Gather data on attendance, graduation rates, test scores, and workshop participation.
– Use interviews, focus groups, and surveys for qualitative feedback.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):
– Implement a framework with clear success indicators and use baseline/end-line evaluations to track changes.

Regular Reporting:
– Share regular reports with stakeholders to maintain transparency and adjust strategies as needed.

Technology and Tools:
– Employ software for data management and digital platforms for real-time tracking.

Impact Stories:
– Highlight success stories to demonstrate the program’s impact.

Stakeholder Engagement:
– Gather ongoing feedback from students, educators, and community members to refine the program.

2025 Midterm Report

Project PEARLS in the Philippines reveals significant positive impacts on the lives of scholars and their families. The project directly benefitted 60 scholars by providing comprehensive support such as scholarships, school supplies, hygiene kits, and transportation assistance. This has led to noticeable improvements in academic performance, confidence, and life skills of the beneficiaries.

The project also indirectly benefits around 300 people, including family members, by reducing financial stress and enhancing community welfare. Through engaging activities such as workshops and field trips, scholars experienced academic and personal growth.

Testimonies

“I am an 18-year-old scholar from Tondo, Manila. I am an incoming first-year college student taking up Bachelor of Education major in English at Universidad de Manila. I have been a Project PEARLS scholar since 2015. I was a Grade 3 student when I became part of the program. Since I was young, I have believed that education is the most important key to a better future. I know that if I graduate with a degree, I will have a stable job that can support not only myself but also my family. We are among the less fortunate in Tondo, Manila. The money my mother earns is barely enough for us to survive. Most of the time, we face difficulties, especially when it comes to school expenses. When my father passed away when I was 7 years old, it was my grandmother who took care of us while my mother worked to provide for our needs.

The only organization that has supported us is Project PEARLS. I remember the time when my family didn’t know where to get school supplies before the school year started. We were also struggling to find ways to pay for my school needs. Everything became easier when I became a Project PEARLS scholar. Every year, they provided me with school supplies. They also helped me financially, especially when I needed to pay for school requirements. Because of Project PEARLS, I met people I never thought I would meet. The workshops they conducted helped me understand more about the world beyond school. They gave me ideas and prepared me for real life challenges. I was also able to visit places I never thought I could go. The field trips helped me learn while enjoying the experience. The events and activities they provided taught me many lessons I can apply in real life. Project PEARLS truly helped me in many ways.

I am very grateful to Project PEARLS and its sponsors, including Think Human Fund and Concentrix. Because of you all, my journey as a student became easier and more hopeful. Now that I am entering college, I am confident that they will continue to support me. As a Project PEARLS and Think Human Fund scholar, I promise to do my best and not disappoint you all.” -Rica-

2025 Annual Report

Project Title: Project PEARLS Scholarship Program

Project PEARLS’ Scholarship Program helps underprivileged children and youth in the Philippines stay in school by covering essential costs—tuition, uniforms, books, and transportation. But they don’t stop at financial support: scholars also receive health and nutrition services, mentoring, tutoring, and development workshops that strengthen both academic performance and overall well-being. This program is central to their mission to deliver quality education and holistic care in impoverished communities. 

Throughout the year, multiple digital literacy initiatives were conducted, focusing on enhancing scholars’ skills and personal development. These sessions included training on goal setting, where participants learned the importance of planning for both short-term and long-term achievements, highlighting the impact of focus and discipline. Another session emphasized understanding and managing emotions, providing scholars with practical strategies for dealing with anxiety and stress through techniques like breathing exercises. Further training guided participants in self-awareness and reflection, encouraging them to apply learned concepts to real-life situations. Overall, these activities collectively aimed to equip scholars with essential skills for both academic and personal growth.

Testimonies

“Project PEARLS and the Think Human Fund have been a blessing in my life and a steady support throughout my education. I have been a scholar since elementary, and your help has eased the weight of school expenses for my family year after year. Because of you, I am able to stay in school and keep moving forward. I honestly don’t know where I would be today without Project PEARLS and the Think Human Fund. From the bottom of my heart, thank you—your support has shaped my journey as a student and given me the courage to keep dreaming.
Junior High was not easy for me. After getting used to online classes, returning to face-to-face learning was overwhelming. I became shy and afraid to participate, even when I knew the answers. But in Grade 10, I prayed and asked the Lord to help me focus—and I promised myself I would do my part, too. With God’s grace and the effort I gave each day, I learned to push past fear. I became more active in school, earned awards, and found a new confidence in myself. That chapter of growth is something I will carry with me forever.”                                                        -MERLEY RONDINA, Grade 12 (General Academic Strand), Tondo-

“Project PEARLS’ Scholarship Program, together with the Think Human Fund, has been a constant blessing for me and my family. I’ve been part of Project PEARLS since daycare, and for more than a decade, you have stayed with me—helping me continue my education and grow into the person I am today. I’m especially grateful that your care goes beyond school support; when I went through an appendectomy, you were there for me when I needed help the most. My biggest challenges have been consistency and financial worries. There are days I feel exhausted, and moments when I fear I won’t be able to continue studying. But I hold on to my purpose—and to the steady support of Project PEARLS and the Think Human Fund, who have been pillars in my journey. One of the most unforgettable lessons I’ve learned came from the “Climbing My Everest” workshop. Even if I couldn’t attend every session, the message stayed with me: keep going, even when it’s hard.
Thank you for believing in us and lifting us higher than we ever thought possible.” -ARGIN VERGARA, Grade 12 (GAS), Bulacan-

“Project PEARLS’ Scholarship Program, together with the Think Human Fund, has made it possible for me to stay in school—especially through support for my tuition—despite our financial hardships. I know I wouldn’t have come this far without you. Even during the
pandemic and even when my family had to relocate, you never stopped supporting us. I’m deeply grateful to God, and to Project PEARLS and Think Human Fund, for choosing me as a scholar. There were moments I felt overwhelmed by deadlines and wanted to give up, but I always remembered the people who believe in me—my family, Project PEARLS, and Think Human Fund. If you never gave up on me, I had no reason to give up on myself. One of my most unforgettable experiences was the 9 Waves retreat, where I grew closer to my fellow scholars and our mentors, and felt truly heard. It reminded me that even when life is hard, we don’t have to carry it alone. Thank you for your unwavering support—your kindness gives us hope, strength, and the courage to keep reaching for our dreams.”                                                         -ROSELYN BAYRON, 3rd Year College (BS Criminology), Cavite-