Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Janina Vela share the same dream for kids

What’s one thing top Kapuso actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith and renowned content creator Janina Vela have in common? Both long-time ambassadors of World Vision Philippines, they believe that every child has the right to education, and be given the proper tools to reach their full potential at school.

This was revealed by both personalities during the launch of World Vision’s annual Back to School campaign, dubbed One Bag One Dream this year, at the PS Bank Center in Makati. “It’s nice to be able to visit the communities and see the smiles of the children every time they receive their bags. It really encourages them, and really makes them feel excited to go back to school, and lessens the worry of parents financially,” shared Jasmine. 

Meanwhile, Janina recounted, “My favorite part of my World Vision journey so far has been child sponsorship. I realized that these are real people with real lives and real stories. They are not just percentages, not just numbers and data. They are real kids who have real dreams and real goals just like we do.”

The Back to School campaign is a boost for many Filipino families living in vulnerable circumstances especially as many students face one major setback: getting their own school supplies. According to 2023 research by the World Remit Study, school supply costs in the Philippines have increased by 16%, putting an additional strain on household budgets. Families must set aside at least 51% of their monthly income to cover essential school items, including pencils and notebooks.

The campaign hopes to alleviate school supply costs on families, while uplifting and empowering children with hope as they return to school.

This year, the goal is to raise enough funds to provide new learning kits worth Php1,000 per kit. Last year, around 24,000 World Vision-assisted children received new learning kits from World Vision.

“We believe that every child has the right to have access to quality education no matter the circumstance, so World Vision is fervently working to make that happen through the Back-to-School Campaign. Of course, we can’t do it alone, and we need the help of many more of our fellow Filipinos to achieve that,” said Jun N. Godornes, World Vision Philippines’ Interim National Director.

Anyone can be instrumental in helping children get back on track with renewed hope for learning by donating to the Back-to-School Campaign or by sponsoring a child and donating for as low as Php5 a day or Php750 per month. Through this amount, you can help provide life-changing essentials for kids, such as education, clean water, health, and nutrition. As a sponsor, you can also build a relationship with the child through letters, photos, and updates. Ultimately, the goal is to help the sponsored child and his/her family break free from poverty and build a sustainable community.   

For more updates, visit the World Vision website at https://www.worldvision.org.ph and follow World Vision Philippines’ official social media pages: @worldvisionph on Facebook and Twitter and @worldvisionphl on Instagram.