San Miguel Foundation supports literacy in the Philippines through scholarship assistance, supplemental feeding, book donation and functional literacy programs.

1. Supplemental Feeding Program: To heed government’s call to address the malnutrition problem of the country, the “Malusog na Katawan, Matalas na Isipan” supplemental feeding was introduced. Children from 4 to 8 years old are given one full meal a day for five days/week from 4 to 6 months. This project is in partnership with elementary public schools and barangay day care centers wherein teachers and parents assist in the implementation of the program.

2. Scholarship Assistance: This is given to underprivileged students in the communities where San Miguel operates. Scholarships are in the field of agricultural and technical courses and each selected scholar are given funding for tuition fees and daily and book allowances. In addition, leadership and communication skills seminars are conducted once a year to help in the holistic development of each scholar.

3. Book Donation: Called “Books for the Barrios”, various reference materials on English, Science and Math are donated to elementary and secondary public schools nationwide. These books were sourced from the Foundation’s partner organizations and internally, a book drive campaign is conducted every summer school breaks where thousands of used and new books are donated by employees. Used computers from the San Miguel offices are also donated to public schools nationwide

4. Functional literacy: Teaching basic reading, writing and modern agricultural technologies to indigenous people are the main focus of the functional literacy program. The program has a duration of at least six months and are conducted by local NGOs in the identified areas.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2009