What does Malaya mean?

Malaya means freedom in Filipino (Tagalog). The Malaya Initiative Foundation embodies this meaning — believing that education is freedom and that every child deserves the tools to think clearly, communicate effectively, and participate meaningfully in society.

Is Malaya Initiative Foundation a registered nonprofit?

Yes. Malaya Initiative Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 41-2664655), incorporated in Delaware effective November 3, 2025, and registered as a charity in Hawaii.

Where does Malaya Initiative Foundation operate?

Malaya Initiative Foundation is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, and focuses its educational programs and partnerships in the Philippines.

MALAYA INITIATIVE FOUNDATION

Education is freedom.

Q: What is the Malaya Initiative Foundation?

Malaya Initiative Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 41-2664655) that supports the development of critical thinking, communication, and civic engagement skills among youth in the Philippines through educational programs, teacher training, and community partnerships.

Q: How can I donate to Malaya Initiative Foundation?

Malaya Initiative Foundation accepts donations by check made payable to Malaya Initiative Foundation, 770 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 602, Honolulu, HI 96813. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. law. For inquiries, email andrea@malaya.org.

Building critical thinking, communication, and civic engagement skills among Filipino youth — because every child deserves the tools to shape their own future.

Donate Now Our Mission

91%

of Filipino 10-year-olds are not proficient in reading

(World Bank, 2022)

77th

of 81 countries in PISA assessments

(PISA, 2022)

5.5 years

learning lag compared to global peers

(PISA, 2022)

SCROLL

THE CHALLENGE

The Philippines faces an education emergency.

The numbers give us the push to drive meaningful change. Filipino students are 5–6 years behind global peers in learning outcomes. The country ranks in the bottom 4 globally for creative thinking — the very skill most resistant to AI automation.

This crisis doesn't stay in the classroom. It flows directly into the workforce: a 39% skills mismatch threatens the $38 billion BPO industry that employs millions. The Philippines ranks 63rd of 67 nations in global talent competitiveness.

But within this crisis lies an opportunity. Government reforms through MATATAG and EDCOM II are mobilizing. Industry leaders are demanding change. What's missing is focused investment in the higher-order skills — critical thinking, clear communication, civic participation — that transform students into globally-competitive workers.

Source: Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) Report (January 2026)

91%

of children cannot read and understand a simple text by age 10

World Bank Learning Poverty Index

77th of 81

PISA ranking, with math scores of 355 vs. OECD average of 472

PISA 2022 Assessment

39%

of workers are in jobs requiring different education levels — a massive skills mismatch

EDCOM II Report

Bottom 4

globally in creative thinking — the critical skill gap where few organizations focus

PISA 2022 Creative Thinking Assessment

WHO WE ARE

Our mission — building strong foundations for learning

Founded in the United States and focused on the Philippines, Malaya Initiative Foundation works at the intersection of education, community, and opportunity. We invest in the programs, people, and partnerships that supports the development of critical thinking, communication, and civic engagement skills among youth in the Philippines.

Our work spans three areas: building evidence-based educational programs in collaboration with local schools, equipping teachers with the skills to foster higher-order thinking, and forging strategic partnerships with the organizations already doing transformative work on the ground.

Malaya means freedom in Filipino. Our mission is to empower individuals to think clearly, express themselves effectively, and participate meaningfully in society.

— Malaya Initiative Foundation

Educational Programs

Workshops and curricula co-designed with local schools and communities to build literacy, critical thinking, and clear communication among Filipino youth.

Teacher Training

Development programs that equip Filipino educators with the methods and confidence to integrate higher-order thinking across every subject they teach.

Community Partnerships

Strategic collaborations with schools, government, NGOs, and the private sector to amplify what is already working and build bridges between classrooms and careers.

OUR APPROACH

Our approach to education reform in the Philippines

We're not here to prescribe solutions. We're here to learn, partner, and invest in what works. Our two-year discovery phase ensures every dollar is guided by evidence and shaped by the communities we serve. Some of the interventions we are looking at revolve around:

Educational Programs

Workshops and programs developed with local schools and communities to build critical thinking, clear communication, and literacy among Filipino youth.

Teacher Training

Development programs that equip Filipino teachers with skills to integrate critical thinking and advanced communication across every subject.

Community Partnerships

Strategic collaborations with schools, government, businesses, and other non-profits already doing transformative work in the Philippines.

GLOBAL LANDSCAPE

Learning from organizations transforming education globally

Malaya doesn't operate in isolation. We study the most effective education nonprofits globally — adapting their proven strategies to the unique challenges facing Filipino youth.

Pencils of Promise

GLOBAL

Builds schools and teacher training programs in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos. Pioneer of the "for-purpose" nonprofit model blending business principles with social impact.

605 schools built · 252,000+ students · 100% of contributions directed to programs

Best practice: Radical transparency — 100% model separates operational costs from donor contributions, building trust.

Room to Read

ASIA & AFRICA

Focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools in historically low-income countries, with emphasis on children's literacy and girls' education.

Established over 20,000 libraries and published books in 36 languages, including Filipino

Best practice: Their localization strategy - publishing in native languages and working with local communities - is directly relevant to Malaya's work in the Philippines.

Pratham

INDIA + 25 COUNTRIES

Largest education NGO in India. Created the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) — the gold standard for measuring learning outcomes at scale.

20,000 communities · Pioneered "Teaching at the Right Level" (TaRL) methodology

Best practice: Evidence-first — rigorous measurement through ASER drives strategy, not assumptions.

CAMFED

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Supports girls' education and young women's empowerment across 5 African countries. Alumni network (CAMA) of 270,000+ women drives sustainable community change.

7.4M+ students supported · 270,000+ women in alumni network

Best practice: Alumni multiplier effect — graduates become leaders who reinvest in the next generation.

Teach for the Philippines

PHILIPPINES

Part of the global Teach For All network. Enlists young Filipino leaders as Teacher Fellows in public schools for two-year placements focused on systemic transformation.

National movement · Teach For All partner #25 · Focus on education equity

Best practice: Leadership pipeline — investing in teacher quality creates cascading impact across the system.

Ayala Foundation

PHILIPPINES

Partners with local government units to improve basic education outcomes. Focus on digital literacy and governance-driven reform at the community level.

20+ program areas · LGU partnerships · Digital learning interventions

Best practice: Government integration — working within systems, not around them, creates durable reform.

Where Malaya fits

While many organizations do vital work in literacy, school building, and teacher development, few focus specifically on the higher-order skills — critical thinking and advanced communication — where the Philippines ranks in the bottom 4 globally.

Critical thinking focus — addressing the skill gap that few organizations in the Philippines centers on

Workforce connection — bridging education outcomes to economic competitiveness and IT-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry needs

10-year commitment — multi-million endowment invested through a disciplined spending strategy on top of fundraising

Partnership-first — two-year discovery phase learning from organizations to validate potential programs

OUR JOURNEY

A 10-year commitment to lasting change

2026 — PHASE 1

Foundation Building & Learning

Educational needs assessment. Partnership development with schools, government, industry, and local institutions. Research, listen, and understand before acting.

2027–2028 — PHASE 2

Program Development & Scaling

Launch pilot programs in critical thinking and communication. Teacher training initiatives. Board decision on program launch strategy by end of 2027.

2029 — PHASE 3

Program Launch

Transition to program preparation — whether launching a new school, partnering with an existing institution, or acquiring another institution for transformation.

2030–2035 — VISION

Implementation and Refinement

Produce graduates who are globally competitive critical thinkers, strong communicators, and engaged citizens who participate meaningfully in their communities.

LEADERSHIP

Built by people who believe education transforms lives

Tim Mobley

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

Founder of Connext, an IT-BPM company in the Philippines with operations in Pampanga and other parts of the country.

Scott Paul

SECRETARY

Business owner and Board Member providing governance expertise and strategic counsel to the foundation.

Josie Mobley

SECRETARY

Investment banker and Board Member overseeing financial stewardship and investment strategy

Andrea Caymo-Kauhanen

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Inaugural ED bringing organizational development and cross-cultural expertise to the foundation's mission.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

Invest in the next generation of Filipino leaders

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE · 501(c)(3) · US-REGISTERED CHARITY

Malaya Initiative Foundation is registered as a public charity authorized to accept charitable donations. Every contribution goes directly toward building the evidence base and partnerships needed to transform education in the Philippines.

$50

Provides additional resource materials for students — enabling them to learn more outside of their current school modules.

$250

Supports teacher training — equipping educators with tools to build critical thinking skills in their classrooms.

$1,000

Funds research and partnership development in the Philippines — helping us find and validate what truly works.

$5,000+

Sponsors a pilot program cohort — enabling us to test, measure, and refine evidence-based interventions with real students/stakeholders.

How to Donate

We accept donations by check. Please make your check payable to:

Malaya Initiative Foundation

770 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 602
Honolulu, HI 96813

Please include your name and email address in the memo line so we can send your tax receipt and keep you updated on our work.

Tax Receipt: Malaya Initiative Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 41-2664655). Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. law. A receipt will be issued for all gifts.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Malaya — freedom — belongs to every child.

Whether you are Filipino at heart or a global citizen who believes in the power of education, there is a place for you in this mission. The Philippines is home to over 115 million people — and millions of children who deserve a chance to develop their potential and lead with purpose.

Ang edukasyon ay kalayaan. Education is freedom.

We invite you to join our initiative.

For Filipinos Everywhere

Whether you are in Manila or halfway around the world — this is your cause. Help give the next generation the quality education every Filipino child deserves. Getting involved let you stay connected and invested in your roots.

For Global Citizens

Education inequality is a global crisis. By investing in Filipino youth today, you are helping build the critical thinkers, communicators, and leaders the world needs tomorrow. No passport required to care.

For Partners & Advocates

Are you an educator, researcher, business leader, or policymaker? Your expertise can shape what works and scale what matters. Reach out — let us build something meaningful together.

Donate Now Get Involved

Stay updated on our journey

Get quarterly updates on our progress, stories from the field, and ways to get involved.