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LETTER FROM
OUR FOUNDER
I don’t think there has ever been a year where I was more grateful to be rooted in the work of HOPE. Each day in 2023 felt like the headlines were delivering yet a further blow to an already weary world. If I started 2012 thinking it was just good to HOPE - I now feel like it is a duty.
Luckily for all of us, the headlines don’t tell the whole story. Beneath much of the noise are quiet everyday heroes who should give us all reason to be optimistic. We honored 3 such individuals in our very first HOPE HERO AWARDS this year. If you haven’t had the chance, please check out their incredible stories of triumph and courage in the report below.
Truly the human spirit is capable of so much good when it chooses.
I would like to thank everyone who is part of the HOPE family, from our staff who run this impact machine each day, to our partners and the public who believe and provide the fuel that allows this work to happen. Is it because of you that we not only delivered the first million coconut trees to smallholder farmers in Mindanao which will impact livelihoods for the next 60 years and bring 100% additional carbon sequestration to one of the front lines of the climate crisis, but it is also because of you that we will begin to deliver the next million trees in 2024. You helped enable the collection of over 4 million kilos of post-consumer plastic waste through our women-led Aling Tindera program so that it does not wind up polluting the oceans and you allowed 41,628 children to experience the transformative power of having a brand new classroom inspire the building of their futures. THANK YOU.
We look forward to gathering the momentum of this past year and scaling it in 2024 to bring your hopes to more and more corners of the Philippines.
Wishing everyone a meaningful 2024!
Nanette Medved - Po
Chairperson & Founder
Together,
Launched in May 2023, the HOPE Hero Awards honors the selfless actions of both Filipinos delivering impact anywhere in the world and anyone, regardless of nationality, whose impact benefits Filipinos.
By shining a spotlight on these people, we inspire others to follow their footsteps and create a meaningful and lasting change.
Empowering migrant workers, one life at a time!
Meet our Hope Hero Awards 2023 Winner, the force behind the Mission For Migrant Workers (MFMW), Cynthia Caridad Abdon-Tellez!
Cynthia founded MFMW to support foreign domestic workers trapped in exploitation and abuse cycles. She also founded Bethune House, a shelter for migrant workers in need, named in memory of her late daughter, Bethune.
Her unwavering commitment spans four decades and has empowered 30,000 workers in Hong Kong, shedding light on their struggles, from underpayment to abuse. Cynthia catalyzed empowerment, nurturing advocates and leaders among migrant women. Under her guidance, migrant organizations and unions thrived, championing rights and change.
Spreading hope, one yellow boat at a time!
Concerned after witnessing children crossing treacherous rivers to reach school, Anton Lim co-founded the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. Their mission: ensure safe school commutes for coastal kids through yellow boats, boosting attendance and educational opportunities.
“I am a PWD - a person with determination.”
Despite being paralyzed from the chest down, Zacarias Mansing’s unyielding spirit has sparked true impact through his Books for Kids Project, touching the lives of over 50,000 school children across 250 public schools in 20 municipalities and cities in Negros Oriental.
OUR IMPACT TO DATE
EDUCATION
Classroom Builds
128
Students Impacted
41,628
P94,103,574
Education Investments
AGRICULTURE
25,627
Farmers Reached
Expected Annual Income Increase for Farmer
60%
P10,257,984
Community Revenue from Plastic Collection
ENVIRONMENT
4,103,193 kg
Plastic Waste Diverted from Nature
CO2 Sequestered
21,938 tons
Trees Planted
1,407,545
RELIEF
Bottles delivered to support disaster victims
679,415
Disaster Response Rate
< 3 days
P3,194,493
Raised by the
HOPE Community
THE HOPE MAP
Hover over the icons to see where we work!
Luzon
Luzon
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
23
19
6
92
1,293,700
Seedlings Distributed
21,591
Farmers Reached
121
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
16
1
53,467
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao
424,862
178,620
CLASSROOMS
Investments in education are needed to secure the long-term success of our country. We decided to begin with the basics and build the infrastructure essential to deliver quality learning. Many of the locations that HOPE builds at are “last mile schools” where sourcing materials, logistics of reaching the remote build site, and navigating safety make project management challenging.
All the effort is worth it when we reach the communities - often overwhelmed with gratitude – who often pitch in to help in what they see as an opportunity to better their children’s and their family’s future. If you ever want to know what hope is–come to a classroom turnover. You’ll see it on every person’s face.
Total Classroom Builds
128
7
Classroom Builds 2023
Total Students Impacted
41,628
7,775
Students Impacted 2023
Total Education Investments
P94,103,574
P5,503,046
Investments 2023
Total Skills Transferred
252 people
30 people
Skills Transferred 2023
Total Skills Transferred
238,908 hrs
23,568 hrs
Skills Transferred 2023
In San Marcelino, Zambales, the United Nations Women Aeta School stands as a beacon of hope. Students and teachers, braving the elements, had makeshift classes under trees or open huts where rainwater seeped through the coconut lumber during the rainy season.
Now, two new HOPE classrooms provide the school's indigenous students and teachers with their first safe, ventilated, and permanent buildings which foster an environment conducive to learning and development.
Nestled in Dumanjug, Cebu, Kabalaasnan Elementary School faced an unprecedented challenge in December 2020. Typhoon Odette left a trail of destruction, stripping the school of not only physical structures but also the very tools of education – books, chairs, and gadgets that students and teachers relied on.
Despite the adversity, the school community rallied together. They improvised makeshift classrooms and shifted their lessons to shaded areas, determined to provide a semblance of normalcy for the students. However, these could not replace the safety and comfort brought by standardized classrooms.
In 2023, the school received their first ever DepEd approved classrooms thanks to HOPE, in collaboration with Megaworld and Esquire Financing. The two brand-new classroom donations now offer a conducive and stable learning environment to 120 children and a safe gathering place for a community that refuses to be defined by adversity.
In the Maasim community of Sarangani, the Calfungal Elementary School serves a twofold role—it's both a learning space for students and an opportunity for parents seeking a second chance at education.
For these parents, returning to the classroom was a decision marked by enthusiasm, yet the path to education posed its own set of challenges. Juggling parental responsibilities with the demands of studying requires both creativity and resilience. Nevertheless, their motivation stemmed from a deep desire to secure a brighter future for both their families and themselves. Their educational aspirations extended beyond elementary school; they dream of reaching high school, paving the way for better jobs and greater opportunities. Age, societal status, and parenthood have not stopped them; they have become motivation for a more promising future.
Allocation of Funds
Education Program
Cost Per Year
Education Program
Allocation of Funds
Our Partners
AGRICULTURE
The Philippines is one of the largest exporters of coconut in the world and yet our smallholder farmers are reaping very little gains. We at HOPE believe that our country’s food producers should enjoy just as much benefits as they give our nation. This is why we prioritize empowering smallholder farmers through initiatives like providing high-quality seedlings and inputs, farm planning, training, market access, logistics support, carbon sequestration for added revenue, and a pay-it-forward program. Through these, our hardworking farmers are able to increase income for their families while also sharing resources with their communities.
SEEDLING DISTRIBUTION
Total Farmers Reached
25,627
4,036
Farmers Reached 2023
Total Seedlings Distributed
1,407,545
303,852
Seedlings Distributed 2023
Income Increase for Model and Demo Farmers vs Baseline
252%
167.89%
Income Increased
in 2023 vs Baseline
Forecasted Income Increase from Seedling Distribution
60%
Hectarage Planted
14,075
3,423
Total Hectarage 2023
Carbon Sequestered
21,938.10
12,548.34
Carbon Sequestered 2023
Ambrocio Cacho of Malapatan, Sarangani Province, found his purpose in the soil. Formerly a chemical sprayer on a banana farm, Ambrocio faced a life-threatening respiratory ordeal due to constant exposure to toxic chemicals. Once he recovered, he was committed to change the way farming was done and turned to organic farming.
HOPE provided Ambrosio with vital resources, including coconut seedlings and the infrastructure to produce organic fertilizer. In just five years, Ambrocio's annual income rose from P30,000 to an impressive P115,000.
Today, as a champion for organic farming, Ambrosio is a teaching volunteer who invites fellow farmers and community members to witness the organic revolution. His farm has become a living classroom where knowledge is sown, cultivated, and shared.
Ellen Mei Pantaleon's journey is a testament to what happens when support meets resilience. In 2017, she became a demo farmer for HOPE, receiving vital resources like organic fertilizers, tools, seedlings, and training. Inspired by one of our sessions, she ventured into mushroom farming, turning it into a successful business that significantly boosted her income. By 2022, her annual income had increased by 160% compared to before she joined the program. Today, Ellen Mei shares her expertise with fellow smallholder farmers in the hopes that they too will find better livelihood opportunities for their land and transform their communities.
In Sitio Macnit, Barangay Nomoh, Maasim, Sarangani Province, you'll find Merdencia Guiban, fondly known as Auntie Inday. She grappled with financial instability, relying on copra sales and sporadic farm labor for her income.
In 2019, she became part of HOPE’s agricultural program as the recipient of coconut seedlings. By 2021, Auntie Inday had become one of HOPE's seedling growers and what unfolded was nothing short of remarkable. Her little venture blossomed into a vital income source, allowing her to reclaim pawned land, buy a new motorcycle, and bid farewell to lingering debts.
Today, Inday’s farm has become one of HOPE’s trusted seedling distribution hubs making her a successful woman microentrepreneur.
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Allocation of Funds
Agriculture Program
Cost Per Year
Agriculture Program
Allocation of Funds
Our Partners
Aling Tindera is our plastic waste-to-cash program that enables women micro-entrepreneurs to manage collection stations and serve as environment heroes in their communities. By assigning a value to post-consumer plastic waste, we can create an incentive to divert pollution away from nature and into the circular economy. Since our launch, we’ve seen how this market-based mechanism can effectively create cleaner surroundings, inspire behavior change, bring incremental income to communities, and relieve a heavily burdened local government from a highly ineffective and fragmented waste management system.
Total Plastic Waste Diverted from Nature
4,103,193 kg
3,552,002 kg
Diversion 2023
Average Monthly Income
Increase for Aling Tindera vs Baseline
48%
Additional Community Revenue
P10,257,984
P8,880,004
Community Revenue 2023
138
Aggregating Sites
36
New Sites 2023
Volume Milestone
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4.103M Kg
Total Plastic Diverted Away from Nature
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As we conclude the year, we are thrilled to announce a major milestone! Through the Aling Tindera program, we’ve successfully collected a staggering 4.1 million kilograms of plastic from the environment!
In the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, greener future, the Aling Tindera program has turned environmental challenges into opportunities for positive change. This achievement not only reflects our commitment to battling plastic pollution but also underscores the remarkable impact of community-driven efforts.
This accomplishment resonates in the hearts and homes of over 100 Aling Tinderas. Each kilogram of plastic collected translates into economic opportunity. So far, more than 10 million pesos of additional income has empowered these women entrepreneurs and their communities.
This story is not just about cleaning up our environment; it's about turning trash into opportunities, one kilogram at a time. The success of Aling Tindera shows the transformative power of collective action and community empowerment.
As we step into the next chapter, let's celebrate the resilience, determination, and environmental stewardship of our Aling Tinderas, who have not only cleaned up 4.1 million kilograms of plastic but have also paved the way for a more sustainable and circular future.
Belen Garcia, our Aling Tindera at Marilao MRF, manages one of the program’s top-performing sites, handling an impressive average of 4,200 kgs of plastic waste on a daily basis. Belen's collaboration with waste pickers, known as the Red Ants, is a key driver of the site's success. The Red Ants provide an important service to the community as they help segregate the city's collected waste and reduce the amount that ends up in landfills.
Wearing their unmistakable red shirts, the Red Ants, led by the indomitable 56-year-old Fe Gonzaga, used to face financial hardships. According to Fe, their earnings used to fluctuate, reaching a maximum of P700 on better days and plummeting as low as P150 on less fortunate ones.
With the Aling Tindera program, they are now able to boost their daily earnings to as high as P2,000. Grateful for the positive transformation, the Red Ants credits the Aling Tindera program, championed by Belen, for their newfound financial security and ability to support their families and communities.
In the heart of Brgy. San Teodoro, Aling Marlyn Maneha's passion combined with HOPE's community-driven initiatives has resulted in an inspiring tale of collaboration.
Committed to ocean preservation, Aling Marlyn embraced her role as an Aling Tindera partner. She joined forces with Ronald and Sofivel Necesito, founders of a local plastic-for-rice program to further incentivize community participation. As people exchanged plastics for rice, the Necesitos then sold the plastics to Aling Marlyn, boosting her income while ensuring the responsible management of the plastics through HOPE. With further support from youth organization SISEAD, coastal and dive clean-ups were organized inspiring over 20 new households to actively collect plastic to further the impact.
Diverting plastic waste away from landfills and oceans ensures that we are not only improving the health of the environment, but also helping to preserve food security, human health and livelihoods.
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Allocation of Funds
Aling Tindera Program
Cost Per Year
Aling Tindera Program
Allocation of Funds
Our Partners
2024
A HOPE-FILLED
WISHING YOU
Education Safeguards & Protections
Build Quality
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School Administrators as Inventory Monitoring Officers
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Partnership with local Department of Education offices for build quality checks conducted by unit managers
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At least 2 quality checks during the build
Labor and Workplace Safety
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All contractors with updated Occupational Safety and Health Certificates
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As additional precaution contractors working in the pandemic also have their health and safety programs approved by the Department of Labor and Employment. This also requires all engineers to undergo additional safety training with the department.
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Coordination with local Barangay unit for securing monitoring of materials and workers.
Adding Value to the Local Economy
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Open bidding to national and local contractors
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All contractors are required to hire local labor and provide skills transfer
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Priority for local materials suppliers
Prevention of Forced and Child Labor
-
As provided by law and enforced in the HOPE SOP
Agriculture Safeguards & Protections
Program
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Prioritize farmers with low income
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Inclusivity and assurance of full respect towards Indigenous People and farmers' different cultures
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Champion for women empowerment, including women as model and demo farmers
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Connect farmers to the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp during Natural Disasters
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Provide coconut and fruit tree seedlings to farmers for carbon sequestration
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Promote organic farming
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Promote vermicomposting
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Provide training on climate change
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Provision of vegetable seeds, banana seedlings and other cash crops for food sustainability
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Diversified farm planning
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Provide green labeled chemical products (pesticides)
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Apply precaution and prevention in providing farm inputs or activities that could harm the environment
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Fully comply and PCA regulation and follow Republic Act No. 10593 - Coconut Preservation
Labor and Workplace Safety
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Compliance with local Anti-Child Labor Laws, including RA 9231
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Provision of Health Insurance for HOPE Staff
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Provision of PPE, ensures that every staff is provided a raincoat for field work
Environmental Safeguards & Protections
Environmental Impact and Pollution Prevention
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There shall be no detrimental impacts to other aspects of the environment, including pollution prevention & abatement, biodiversity & marine conservation, management of natural resources & welfare of people
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Potential impacts and risk assessment shall be conducted in all aspects of the operations and mitigation measures in place when necessary
Labor and Workplace Safety
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Risk inherent to the activities shall be identified and addressed prior to the conduct of the activities from aggregation up to processing.
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Necessary measureas shall be implemented to avoid accidents, injuries or diseases airing from or associated to the activities including emergency response and preparedness.
Feedback and Grievance Mechanisms
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Consultations and feedback mechanisms shall be in place and will be available throughout the implementation activities
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Incorporates the views of all the stakeholders in the conduct of activities and disclosure of Plastic Credits in the PCX Credit Registry
Prohibited Materials and Activity
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Activities involving forms of forced or child labor
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Activities deemed illegal under international conventions and host country regulations
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Activities involving toxic or hazardous materials including weapons, munitions and radioactive materials
HOPE is an impact organization that has been recognized as Best for the World™ B Corp since 2017. Established in 2012, HOPE invests 100% of its profits in improving public school education infrastructure, providing agricultural interventions and carbon sequestration opportunities to smallholder farmers and taking action towards the growing plastic pollution crisis.