1. PROJECT LITERACY

According to the World Bank, 7 in 10 children globally are in learning poverty. In the Philippines, over 90 percent of 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand a simple story. This is an education crisis and a crisis of potential, dignity, and opportunity.

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That’s where Project Literacy comes in. In partnership with DepEd Manila District III, Haraya has launched a pilot intensive reading program for 50 students, Grades 2 to 6. Half of our learners come from backgrounds shaped by incarceration, homelessness, or substance use. 

 

In just 5 months we will get these students to an independent reading level. This program is based on a beta program of 14 students hosted by Master Teacher Alma, where all students who entered the program unable to decode basic syllables reached independent reading level in the same time frame.

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3. Our Approach

Our method is hands-on, trauma-aware, and rooted in play. We use the Marungko Approach, Reggio Emilia Approach, phonics-based instruction, and strategies that build reading skills, confidence, and curiosity. We provide healthy lunches and offer 3 field trips that connect learning to real-world experiences.

 

The classroom is reviewed weekly by our Director of Education to ensure quality and responsiveness.

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4. Beyond the Classroom

 

We believe in nurturing the whole child. That means:

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• Providing healthy lunches daily to students, staff, and volunteers

• Hosting three educational field trips throughout the program

• Promoting learning outside the classroom through empathy, curiosity, and environmental awareness

• Training volunteers weekly to strengthen instruction and community building

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5. Why It Matters

For our students, learning to read means learning to think, to imagine, and to participate. Project Literacy sees reading as the first step toward lifelong critical thinking, self-worth, and the power to shape one’s own story. 

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6. What’s Next

Project Literacy is also deeply integrated with Haraya’s Teacher Training Program, a hands-on initiative that equips aspiring educators with the tools to teach literacy effectively.

 

Our volunteers work under the guidance of Master Teacher Alma inside the classroom each week and participate in weekly theory sessions with our Director of Education to deepen their understanding of the instructional strategies they are using. This creates a powerful cycle of learning, where students and teachers grow together, supported by community and guided by care while also building a network of active teachers trained in progressive literacy methods.