In many communities, the fight against poverty and inequality begins in early childhood classrooms. Recognizing that foundational reading is a vital form of social welfare and long-term social security, José Rizal University (JRU), through its Community Development Office (JRU CDO) and Lunas Basa Program, has renewed its partnership with non-governmental organization Lingap Angat to support Mandaluyong Elementary School’s Project REACH (Reading Enhancement through Active Collaboration with Highly Dedicated Partners).
Project REACH directly advances three UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- SDG 1: No Poverty — Establishing early literacy to break generational poverty
- SDG 4: Quality Education — Utilizing structured methods like Marungko Phonics and ARAL-validated tools.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals — Combining efforts across higher education, civil society, and local schools.
Sustaining formal partnerships among JRU, Lingap Angat, and local educators ensures ongoing volunteer deployment and resource availability—proving that collaborative education initiatives are essential to lasting social welfare.