From School Supplies to Safe Learning Spaces: GMA Kapuso Foundation Helps Shape Future of Filipino Schoolchildren | GMANetwork.com - Foundation - Articles

The GMA Kapuso Foundation, the socio-civic arm of GMA Network, provides support to Filipino schoolchildren in underserved communities through its education projects,  Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan and the Kapuso School Development Project.

From School Supplies to Safe Learning Spaces: GMA Kapuso Foundation Helps Shape Future of Filipino Schoolchildren

June 10 2026

The beginning of a new school year marks a new chapter for Filipino schoolchildren eager to learn, grow, and have a brighter future. 

For many communities, however, the excitement of a new school year comes with challenges, including the lack of safe and resilient spaces conducive to learning, limited access to basic amenities and learning materials, and class disruptions caused by natural disasters.

The GMA Kapuso Foundation, the socio-civic arm of GMA Network, provides support to Filipino schoolchildren in underserved communities through its education projects,  Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan and the Kapuso School Development Project.

 

 

Supporting Learning Through Essential School Supplies 

Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan (UHSK) provides 60,000 customized school bags and complete sets of school supplies to incoming Kindergarten and Grade 1 students in public elementary schools nationwide. Each beneficiary receives a backpack with built-in pencil case containing five notebooks, two pad papers, two pencils, a sharpener, an eraser, and a set of crayons (16 pcs.).

In 2026, GMAKF launched its UHSK initiative in the province of Aurora, which was placed under a  State of Calamity following the severe devastation caused by Typhoon Uwan in November 2025. 

A total of 3,000 school children from 64 public schools in Dilasag, Dinalungan, Dingalan, and Casiguran received a school bag and a complete set of school supplies.

The program also benefited close to 15,000 schoolchildren in the communities affected by the recent typhoons, including Pangasinan (Typhoon Emong); Iligan (Typhoon Basyang); and Negros Oriental and Occidental (Typhoon Tino). 

Through the Unang Hakbang sa Kinabukasan, GMAKF aims to provide 60,000 schoolchildren nationwide with school bags and school supplies in 2026.

 

 

Building Classrooms and Empowering Dreams

Another key education initiative of GMAKF is the Kapuso School Development (KSD) Project, which constructs sturdy Kapuso classrooms with restrooms. Inspired by the bayanihan spirit, the program encourages volunteerism and hires supplementary labor to build classrooms from the local communities that it serves.

Following the devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30  and Typhoon Tino on November 4 that struck Northern Cebu in 2025, GMAKF mobilized support to help affected communities. Through generous donations and community efforts, the school children of Talisay Integrated School in Daanbantayan now have classrooms designed to withstand up to a magnitude 8 earthquake and winds reaching 280 kph. 

Support was also extended to Dakit Elementary School in Bogo City. Besides new classrooms, a hygiene facility and foot bath for Muslim students were built, promoting inclusion within the community and safety. Plans are also underway to build resilient classrooms for the students of Panugnawan Elementary School in Medellin, Cebu.

The mission continues in other parts of the country, such as Minalabac in Camarines Sur, one of the municipalities hit by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in 2024.

In 2026, GMAKF turned over its first two-storey, flood-resistant Kapuso School Building at Malitbog Elementary School. It consists of three classrooms, each with its own comfort room, and is designed to withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake. 

To date, the program has turned over 457 classrooms to various communities nationwide. 

Restoring Hope Through Education

GMAKF's efforts are year-round, pooling resources from various partnerships, donors, and individuals. Education projects such as the UHSK and the KSD help underserved and disaster-affected communities recover by providing students with the resources and learning spaces they need to continue their education. 

Beyond education, the GMA Kapuso Foundation headlines various humanitarian programs, including disaster response, health initiatives, educational projects and values formation activities such as blood donation drives. For more information and to send donations, visit https://www.gmanetwork.com/kapusofoundation/donate/.

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