Helping Our Young People Continue Their Education in 2026 at the Dumaguete Center

What the Situation Is in the Philippines and in Dumaguete

The economic and social context in the Philippines is complex, and schooling faces many challenges. Poverty can take the form of slums, as is the case in Manila and Cebu. Drugs and alcohol circulate widely and contribute to insecurity and violence. In the most remote islands, rural isolation makes access to school infrastructure difficult. In urban environments, poverty and corruption are widespread. Family breakdown is also very common, and many fathers are absent. Overcrowded housing, sometimes with up to ten people sharing the same room, can lead to emotional and sexual development issues.

It is within this context that the home in Dumaguete, located on the island of Negros in the central-western Philippines, operates. The island is divided into two parts, the western and the eastern regions. Dumaguete is the main city of Negros Oriental and has around 130,000 inhabitants. It is a well-known university city with four major universities. Children of the Mekong runs a residential centre in the city of Dumaguete and works in 15 surrounding villages.

The young people at this centre come from poor farming families who are highly dependent on natural conditions and cannot financially support their children’s education.

Philippines

What is the Dumaguete Centre?

The Dumaguete school centre welcomes 35 young people aged between 16 and 23. Students live at the centre during their first two years of studies. From the third year onwards, they gain greater independence by moving to a more autonomous residence, similar to a shared flat.

Throughout their studies, the students at the centre are supported and guided by a supervisory team consisting of a centre manager, a social worker, a houseparent and a Bambou volunteer. Together, they ensure the personal development of each young person, encouraging and guiding them, helping them develop a sense of responsibility, and organising additional activities for personal and professional development.

Discover the Dumaguete Centre

Philippines

How Does the Project Make a Difference?

Enable students from very poor families to continue their education and pursue their academic ambitions despite financial barriers.

Provide these students with a stable living environment and supportive study conditions that allow them to focus fully on their education and succeed academically.

Beyond their academic studies, offer students a well-rounded education that helps them develop intellectually, emotionally and morally, enabling them to strive for human excellence.

Salamat kaayo for your support! (Thank you very much in Visayas)

Who Are the New Students at the Dumaguete Centre?

In August 2025, the centre welcomed 11 new first-year students. This new cohort is made up of 3 boys and 8 girls:

5 in Education/Teaching
2 in Finance
1 in Psychology
1 in Communication
1 in Computer Science
1 in Business

To join the centre, they had to go through a selection process held in January 2025, which included reviewing applications, interviews and family visits. In August, an orientation week was organised to help them build connections with their cohort as well as with the other students at the centre.

After this first semester, the students have integrated well. They take part willingly in the centre’s activities and responsibilities. We are delighted to see them finding their place within this large family.

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Philippines — The 2025 Cohort at the Dumaguete Centre

What Workshops Took Place in 2025?

In 2025, many practical workshops were organised to help the young people develop their creativity. Developing these new skills also gives them the opportunity to discover new passions. Most importantly, it encourages them to spend their free time in these workshops rather than on their phones. For example, they took part in a crochet workshop and were able to make Christmas gifts for their families.

The students also took part in awareness workshops. In October 2025, they had the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with their phones and the internet. This session allowed them to discuss and recognise some of the toxic dynamics they may experience with social media, such as the tendency to compare themselves with others, sharing personal matters with ChatGPT, and losing focus during study time because of the time spent on their phones.

In addition to workshops, the students also benefit from training sessions and conferences. The training programme is designed by Filipino staff members of Children of the Mekong, who also lead the sessions. These sessions are often organised by age group in order to match the students’ stages of development. For example, in November 2025, the organisation Pure Heart delivered a conference and training session that encouraged students to reflect on several topics:

friendships
women’s rights
romantic and marital relationships
self-love

What Is Planned for 2026?

For 2026, our objectives are:

The full integration of the first-year students, helping them develop greater independence
Second-year students taking on the role of ate (big sister) for the younger students
The graduation of all fourth-year students
The selection and integration of the next cohort

Alongside these goals, we will continue our core mission of supporting these students by providing the best possible environment for them to succeed. To achieve this, they will continue to benefit from personal development seminars, health-related initiatives, creative activities, community-building moments and opportunities for discussion and reflection.

It has now been a year and a half since we moved into the new Dumaguete Centre. In 2026, we aim to further develop the space so that it better meets our needs and improves the students’ comfort. In particular, we hope to add a second bathroom for the girls, install an additional water point, which is currently insufficient, and create a relaxation area where students can unwind.