GMA Kapuso Foundation, the socio-civic arm of GMA Network, continues to reach out to less fortunate students in need of school supplies across the country.
“We are hoping to reach more and more students, particularly in far-flung provinces, in need of school materials that they could not afford. Through this effort, we hope to instill in them the value of education by providing the basic necessities for learning,” says GMAKF EVP and COO Mel C. Tiangco of their long-standing project, Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan (UHSK) which marks its 18th year this year.
GMAKF was able to serve 85,000 incoming Grade 1 pupils from 2,477 selected public schools in Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Misamis Occidental, Surigao Del Norte, Ilocos Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Palawan, Quezon, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Aparri, Iloilo, Capiz, Samar, Romblon, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Occidental Mindoro, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi Tawi, Agusan del Norte, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, as well as Quezon City, Caloocan, and Navotas.
In 2014, the Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan Project was able to reach 76,000 students and 1,747 schools.
Alongside the GMA Kapuso Foundation for the project are the Department of Education’s Bureau of Elementary Education, Ever Gotesco Malls, and Go Tong Foundation.