CARITAS Philippines, the humanitarian and advocacy arm of the Catholic Church, will provide P65.5 million scholarship fund to help over 500 students.

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines, said that the education assistance is part of the organization’s Alay Kapwa Legacy Stewardship Program.

The program aims to provide “equal access to primary and secondary education and skills and opportunities” to at least 525 poor children.

“We need to invest in the education of our youth if we want more gold medals, better government and next-generation leaders,” Bagaforo said.

The assistance will cover online learning and other school expenses, tutorial services, and training, Caritas executive secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao said.

“We are hoping that with these interventions, we will be able to realize our mandate to instill mercy, justice and sustainable development as pillars of our faith and action,” Labiao said.