Thousands of out-of-school youth and adults have re-started their education journey when Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Philippine’s largest microfinancial company, and the Department of Education (DepEd) inaugurated the 16 DepEd-Cebuana Lhuillier Alternative Learning Centers (ALS).
CLFI donated Php2 million for the procurement of teaching equipment and reproduction of learning modules and materials for the program, which aims to provide alternative basic education for more than 1,300 out-of-school youth and adults, with the end-goal of getting a high school diploma and enabling them to pursue higher education or get a college degree.
On August 12, Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier and DepEd officials led the inauguration of the learning center in Cubao Elementary School in Quezon City.
A few days prior, on August 7, Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe J. Lhuillier led the inauguration of the learning center in Bais City, Negros Oriental.
“We are happy to see these projects come to fruition. The program is an excellent medium to give young people and adults alike another chance to get basic education, notwithstanding their current financial situation. It gives people hope that they will get a better life through education,” said JHL.
“Cebuana Lhuillier is now moving towards offering our products and services directly to the people, and the alternative learning program complements that direction. Our CSR thrust is focused on giving people opportunities to have basic education through the alternative learning system. After graduating from high school, we can also provide them with a college scholarship grant through our scholarships program which we have been implementing since 2001,” added JHL.
Aside from the Center in Quezon City, 15 other DepEd–Cebuana Lhuillier ALS Community Learning Centers have been established in Pasig City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Benguet, Rizal, Cavite, Kalinga Province, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Davao, General Santos City, Palawan, Aklan, and Laguna.
View event photos here.