This October, Stairway Foundation marked an inspiring milestone, reaching the final validation stage in the 2024 National Literacy Awards (NLA). As a finalist in the prestigious Gawad Liyab – Outstanding Literacy Program category, recognized by the Department of Education’s Literacy Coordinating Council, we hosted a team of validators from October 1 to 4 at our Learning and Resource Center in Puerto Galera. We earned this nomination through our innovative approach to literacy and communities and Indigenous People beyond traditional teaching of academics.
Stairway’s literacy programs blend health, nutrition, livelihood, environmental awareness, arts, sports, and digital skills, benefiting Indigenous and marginalized communities. By bridging traditional knowledge with modern skills, Stairway redefines literacy as a tool for building self-sufficiency and resilience in individuals and entire communities. Stairway’s approach extends to parents, equipping them with valuable livelihood skills and fostering a community of role models who actively support their children. At SFI, literacy builds confidence, independence, and resilience across generations.
Experiential Learning and Measurable Impact
Central to Stairway’s approach is its child-centered model, which is seen through initiatives like the Sea Adventure School (SAS). This “floating classroom” immerses students in hands-on environmental learning, leaving a lasting impact. Validators noted the students’ enthusiasm during the SAS sessions, recognizing how experiential learning makes education memorable and meaningful.
Stairway’s deep-rooted relationships with local schools, families, community leaders and most of all our international network with financing partners ensure that education remains accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status. The impact of Stairway’s programs is clear, evidenced by increased school attendance and higher self-worth among participants. Validators commended the dedication and competence of the SFI staff, highlighting how the organization’s integrated focus on children’s rights and literacy development is transforming communities.
Experiencing Stairway’s Programs
The validators toured the Baclayan Mangyan School and Stairway’s Children’s Health and Education Center, Feeding Center, Organic Farm, and Information and Communication Center, witnessing how literacy interweaves with nutrition, health, and technology access.
Community members shared stories of how SFI programs have helped them, stressing SFI’s commitment to preserving local culture while expanding educational access. One of the highlights of the validation was the October 3 Sea Adventure School session. Stairway’s Floating Classroom immerses students in Puerto Galera’s unique marine environment. This hands-on experiential learning model, clearly making environmental education fun and impactful, impressed the validators.
Looking to the Future
The validation process concluded with an emotional exit conference where the validators expressed gratitude and admiration for Stairway’s commitment to quality education, community empowerment, and children’s rights.
Together, validators and Stairway staff sang “We Are the World,” celebrating a shared vision of resilience and change. As SFI eagerly anticipates the results of the 2024 National Literacy Awards, we take pride in the achievements that have brought us this far. Stairway’s programs and services remain a powerful reminder of literacy’s potential to ignite change, foster resilience, and inspire hope in communities.