Manila, Philippines — In a groundbreaking partnership fueled by heart and innovation, two 2024 .ORG Impact Awards finalists have joined hands to ignite hope and open doors of opportunity for children in some of the Philippines’ most remote and underserved communities.
The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, honored as the overall 2024 .ORG Impact Awards winner and recognized as the best in the Quality Education for All category, has partnered with School The World, which was also a finalist in the same category and is a global education pioneer with over 16 years of success transforming lives in Central America.
Together, they are answering one of the Philippines’ most urgent calls: bridging the gap for 165,000 classrooms still needed across the country, according to the Department of Education.
This collaboration marks School The World’s first step into Southeast Asia, advancing its bold Moonshot 2030 vision—ensuring children thrive with 10+ years of quality education, no matter where they live.
The partnership will begin in six remote communities in Palawan and Zamboanga del Sur, where both organizations will build safe, inspiring classrooms and create strong foundations through teacher training and parent empowerment—because lasting change starts with the whole community.
“This is about more than expansion; it’s about transforming lives,” said Kate Curran. “By investing in teachers, families, and schools, we’re planting the seeds for a future where every child has the chance to succeed. Bringing our model to the Philippines ignites hope in a place where the potential to create change is limitless.”
Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation plays a vital role as the bridge between global expertise and local realities, ensuring this transformational work is grounded in the heart of each community.
“Education is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right,” said Dr. Anton Mari Lim, reflecting on Yellow Boat’s historic 2024 .ORG of the Year award. “When we open access to education, we shatter the chains of intergenerational poverty and light the way to a brighter tomorrow. Together with hope, what once seemed impossible becomes a shared reality.”
This partnership shines as a beacon of what is possible when global vision meets local action. Together, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation and School The World are proving that inclusive, quality education can reach every last mile—bringing light, opportunity, and hope to children waiting for their chance to learn, grow and reach their maximum potential.
About Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation
Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization in the Philippines that helps children in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) access education, starting with something as basic yet life-changing as a boat ride to school. Since 2010, it has expanded to building classrooms, dormitories, bridges, and e-learning hubs—essential structures that make education more accessible and sustainable for students in last-mile areas. Learn more at www.yellowboat.org.
About School the World
Founded in 2009, School the World is an international nonprofit fighting extreme poverty through the power of education. Its community-based model has impacted more than 170,000 children across Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama. Learn more at www.schooltheworld.org.
About Public Interest Registry
Public Interest Registry (PIR) is a nonprofit that operates the .ORG top-level domain, one of the world’s largest generic top-level domains with more than 11 million domain names registered worldwide. .ORG is open to everyone, providing a global platform for organizations, associations, clubs, businesses and individuals to bring their ideas to life. PIR has been a champion for a free and open Internet for two decades with a clear mission to be an exemplary domain name registry, provide a trusted digital identity and help educate those who dedicate themselves to improving our world. PIR was founded by the Internet Society (internetsociety.org) in 2002 and is based in Reston, Virginia, USA. Visit www.pir.org for more information.
