Manila, Philippines - MoneyGram International is helping Filipino youth reconnect with education programs by providing support to the innovative Kariton Program, or pushcart classroom, offered by Dynamic Teen Co. Dynamic Teen received a $10,000 grant through a collaborative effort between MoneyGram and the United Way Worldwide.
Alex Lim, MoneyGram’s country manager for the Philippines met with Efren Peñaflorida Jr., CEO and founder of Dynamic Teen at MoneyGram’s Manila office to celebrate the collaboration.
“Education can be instrumental in helping youth and their families restore their hope and dignity,” said Lim. “MoneyGram is focused on providing youth more opportunities to attend school, read more books and ultimately build a better livelihood. The Kariton Program has proven it can support youth in Manila to return to school and we’re honored to help provide scholarships for youth that are in the pushcart classrooms and those returning to local schools.”
Peñaflorida started the pushcart classroom in his home community of Cavite City and earlier this year introduced four Kariton Klasrums in the cities of Manila, Pasig, Caloocan and Quezon City, targeting areas where street children are known to stay. Dynamic Teen will add 13 more pushcart classrooms around Manila yet this year.
“MoneyGram’s support will help our outreach to children for our expanded programs around Manila,” said Peñaflorida. “We want to provide an opportunity for all of Manila’s children who may have shied away from school because of poverty, lack of interest in studying, and negative elements in their surroundings to once again return to formal education.”