Ayala Foundation continues to grow the reach of its scholarship program in partnership with U-Go, adding 300 scholars to the 120 current scholars, all of whom are promising young women.
Education start-up U-Go is an international non-profit with which Ayala Foundation has an existing program partnership and serves as its operating arm in the Philippines. U-Go also operates in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam. The U-Go scholarship aims to help young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds pursue higher education, seeking out students who not only excel in academics but also in community engagement and student leadership.
Joanna Duarte, Senior Director for Social Development at Ayala Foundation announced that the U-Go program has produced its first graduate, Ma. Dona Mae Oco, who graduated with honors this August. Oco is one of the students from the pioneer batch of U-Go scholars and graduated cum laude from Philippine Normal University.
“I dream to become an educator upon completing my secondary studies. I discovered the U-Go scholarship at a time when I needed it most—when my mother and brothers lost their jobs. I didn’t know how I would be able to continue my studies until I was chosen as one of the U-Go scholars,” shared Oco. After graduation, she hopes to give back and “genuinely serve my community by working with our government agencies that aim to serve our people.”
Dona Mae Oco is the first graduate from the inaugural batch of U-Go scholars, earning her bachelor’s degree in Values Education at Philippine Normal University.
Since its launch in the Philippines in 2022, U-Go has been helping 120 scholars who go to 70 schools located in 30 provinces, from the northernmost province of Cagayan to the southernmost province of Davao del Sur. The addition of 300 scholars this year brings the total scholarship grants to 420.
U-Go scholars welcome John Wood, Tom Monroe, and Yael Tzur during the U-Go Global Board visit at Philippine Normal University-Manila.
“Helping young women empower themselves not only bridges the gender gap, but benefits communities and workplaces, more broadly. Ayala Foundation and U-Go are placing their faith in the capacity of young Filipino women to complete their education, do well in their careers, and break the transmission of poverty to the next generation,” said Ayala Foundation President Tony Lambino.
Ayala Foundation is gearing up for onboarding more scholars in the coming years to reach 1,000 scholars by 2026. The next milestone is the integration of mentorship programs for the scholars. In the future, U-Go endeavors to also help the graduates on full-time employment or business, community engagements, and upskilling opportunities.
The Ayala Foundation education team, together with the U-Go Global board host a thanksgiving dinner for U-Go program donors.
Said Mariana Zobel de Ayala, member of the U-Go Global Board of Directors and BPI Senior Vice President of Consumer Bank Marketing and Platforms, “The issue of education equality for women is as much about empowering women as it is about building the most capable economy possible for the Philippines, to ensure our collective progress as a nation. The opportunity to contribute to this possibility, through U-Go Philippines, is exciting.”
About Ayala Foundation
As the social development arm of the Ayala group of companies, Ayala Foundation envisions communities where people are creative, productive, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino. Ayala Foundation is committed to community development, working closely with communities in identifying compelling developmental needs and providing suitable solutions with measurable outcomes. It implements programs under the following themes: Education, Sustainable Livelihood, and Love of Country.
Ayala Foundation welcomes partnerships to help improve lives of people in communities. If you wish to support our programs, visit https://donate.ayalafoundation.org.
