Education Makes the Future Possible.
Poverty creates a gap where opportunity should be. At Real LIFE, we bridge that gap and help the youth cross toward a brighter future.
The Reality We’re Working to Change
With 17.5 million Filipinos living in poverty, 10 million young people end up out of school.
Behind every number is a young Filipino whose potential is left waiting, not because they lack ability, but because opportunity is out of reach.
The Change We Hope to See
Our hope is to see every Real LIFE scholar have the chance to rise above poverty, lead with integrity, and eventually give back to others in need.
In the next five years, we aim to support 5,500 scholars across 134 local centers, creating more opportunities, more stories of hope, and more lives, families, and communities changed through education.
We Believe Hope Begins When a Student Gets a Chance to Learn
Our Mission
The Real LIFE Foundation exists to honor God by serving and empowering the underprivileged youth of the Philippines through educational assistance, character formation, and leadership development.
The Values that Bring LIFE to Our Mission
L
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Since 2003, we’ve served over 3,000 underprivileged youth across 111 locations in the Philippines
2003
In 2003, practicing physician and then senior pastor of Victory Pasig Joey Castro started the LIFE Scholarships — an educational assistance program for high school and university students who lacked the financial capability to complete their education. Out of their own pockets, he and his wife, Tess, paid for the tuition and books of the students while their friends, joining their humble advocacy, shouldered the students’ weekly allowance.
2007
The success of these scholarships in the years that followed led to an increased demand for funding and programs. As such, the LIFE Scholarships Program was formally incorporated as the Real LIFE Foundation, Inc. in March 2007.
2008
The Race for LIFE '08 was our very first 5 & 10K fun run to raise awareness and funds for our scholars.
2009
We opened our first provincial centers in Lipa, Batangas, and Bacolod, Negros Occidental. Since then, we have opened more centers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
2011
The first National Scholars Conference (NSC) was held in October 2011 for 160 scholars. Since then. The NSC had become an annual event to prepare graduating scholars for life after college by equipping them with skills needed to begin their professional career.
2015
We tied up with Victory locations to localize the scholarship program. Thanks to this partnership, we now have Real LIFE teams in more than 50 locations across the Philippines. We also partnered with Every Nation Campus Philippines for our character formation program. They help us coach all our scholars in the areas of leadership, integrity, faith, and excellence through LIFE groups that meet weekly.
2019
In 2019, we became an official partner of the Department of Education, enabling us to help more students know about our scholarship program.
2020
In 2020, right when access to good health care was needed everywhere, Purple Cow SME Healthcare partnered with Real LIFE to provide health insurance to every scholar. Today, because of this partnership, more than 1,000 scholars across the Philippines are able to see a doctor and receive treatment when they need it.
2022
Real LIFE becomes present in all regions of the Philippines.
2024
In 2024, the Real LIFE Foundation reached a milestone of 1,043 alumni since its founding. Additionally, we have established our presence in 100 locations nationwide.
2024
Real LIFE has long envisioned equipping our scholars with comprehensive coaching materials. In 2024, we successfully completed the review of our Coaching Materials. In collaboration with the Every Nation Leadership Institute (ENLI) and Every Nation Campus (ENC), we aim to provide resources that empower our coaches to instill the values of leadership, integrity, faith, and excellence (L.I.F.E.) in our scholars.
The People Behind the Mission
Real LIFE is led by a team of passionate leaders and mentors committed to changing lives through education. Together, we steward every opportunity, resource, and relationship to create lasting impact for our scholars and their communities.
Our Impact, in Numbers and Stories
We believe in accountability and transparency. Our annual reports highlight how every peso, partnership, and program contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty through education.
Change starts with one opportunity and grows through partnership.
Together, we can bridge opportunities for more Filipino youth to learn, lead, and lift others.