Lifebank Foundation recognizes that poverty is a multifaceted problem that cannot be tackled through any single method. In our pursuit to break the chains of poverty, we fund a variety of social service programs that address many aspects and causes of poverty. These non-profit programs are divided into the following focus areas:
Education
Access to education is without a doubt one of the most fundamental elements of breaking out of poverty. Lifebank Foundation has set education as one of its core areas of focus for SSDD programs, and assists both members and non-members through the following initiatives:
- Education Scholarship Program (ESP)
- The ESP is Lifebank’s primary program for assisting underprivileged Filipinos in attaining higher education. Through this scholarship program, the SSDD sponsors hundreds of students every year. Since its inception, this program has placed thousands of students in colleges all over the country, granting many families their first-ever college graduates.
- Sports, Arts, and Culture (SAC)
- The SAC initiative aims to encourage holistic growth for youths all over the country. By funding programs that allow children to participate in sports, arts, and culture activities, Lifebank Foundation works to give children access to enriching experiences that will help mold them into better citizens and community members.
- Action for the Care and Development of the Poor in the Philippines (ACAP)
- ACAP is an organization that is dedicated towards giving streetchildren empowerment through education, arts, and skills development.
- Light for Education
- Light for Education works to provide affordable solar lights to rural families that live in remote areas that are not connected to any power grids. By providing these families with sustainable light sources, this program works to give rural children more time to study, read, and improve their education.
- Gamot Cogon Institute (GCI)
- GCI is an alternative school located in Iloilo that strives to provide world-class education for all members of society, regardless of income levels.
Health and Disaster Risk Reduction
Worldwide, it is always the poorest sectors of society that are most affected by sickness, disasters, and climate change. By developing programs to improve the health of these communities, help prepare them for disasters, and provide aid to those hit hardest, Lifebank Foundation works to create a safety net for those in need.
- Medical Missions
- Lifebank Foundation recognizes the importance of prevention in maintaining healthy communities, and sponsors several medical missions to poverty-stricken communities that help increase health awareness and provide direct interventions to those who need it most.
- Community Preparedness & Disaster Management
- Lifebank Foundation partnered with the Philippine Red Cross to develop and propagate disaster preparation and management training to communities all over the country. These training sessions help create champions in the community that are critical in managing safety in times of disaster.
- Disaster Relief Assistance
- When disaster strikes, the most vulnerable sectors of society are often left without food, aid, and shelter for extended periods of time. Lifebank Foundation’s disaster relief assistance works to get critical aid to disaster areas as soon as possible to help offset the damage wrought by natural disasters.
Business Development
To help develop our members and communities and raise them out of poverty, the foundation also works on sponsoring programs that aid in the strengthening of their financial and non-financial skills.
- Values Formation
- Over the years, Lifebank Foundation has partnered with various service providers to create values formation workshops that target both employees and borrowers alike. These sessions help reinforce the values of good citizenship, volunteerism, honesty, and more, as a constant effort in helping to strengthen communities.
- Financial Literacy
- Beyond values formation, Lifebank Foundation also invests in numerous efforts to help develop the skills of our borrowers and members. These financial literacy programs help teach them the skills of saving, budgeting, and investing, so that these members can run their businesses and households more efficiently.
Local Governance
Governance is one of the most critical aspects of poverty, as corruption and mismanagement are some of the greatest forces that keep communities from developing. Lifebank Foundation works with various partners to find ways of improving active citizen participation in government, while also striving to develop leaders for the future.
- Lifebank Youth Leadership Program (LYLP)
- The Lifebank Youth Leadership Program works with target communities to provide funding for programs that help encourage and develop local children into becoming leaders in their schools and communities.
- Sustainable Integrated Area Development (SIAD)
- SIAD is an innovative approach to good governance that works to bridge the gap between local governments, civil society, and local businesses, thereby increasing synergy and transparency for all stakeholders in the target communities.
Sustainable Agriculture and Environment
No country can develop without a secure and sustainable food supply. These programs focus on strengthening and developing and protecting our country’s agricultural and environmental sectors to ensure long-term food security and livelihoods for our nation’s farmers
- CBE
- NICE
- SCI-NASSA
- LOAMCP
Innovation and Incubation
The root causes of poverty are varied and complex, and often require innovative approaches to address them. These programs focus on targeting the structural and societal causes of poverty while incubating programs that attempt to solve them.
- SAIL
- SEA
- Street Children NGO Network