Earthquake Update June 9, 2026

The AFFLIP Board is pleased to report that our friends in Talomo school districts East and West are safe after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the southern coast of Mindanao.

It was the first day of the school year that students and teachers will not forget in a hurry. As aftershocks continue, schools remain closed while local officials carry out structural checks to ensure that buildings are safe for students and teachers to return.

Our thoughts are with them all during this challenging time.

Eight reading leaders from Talomo District visited Adelaide between October 27th and Nov 6th, 2024, to further explore the work started by the Guided Reading Using Book Boxes, (GRUBB) project. AFFLIP’s partnership with Magic Libraries Foundation (Geneva) has enabled what was a small-scale reading project to expand into all fifteen schools in the Talomo District.

Talomo leaders and educators visited five Adelaide primary schools and were able to see firsthand approaches to the teaching of reading. A big thank you to Board members Max Greenwood and Jeanette Emery for their organisation and leadership of this very successful visit.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the Australian Foundation for Fostering Learning in the Philippines Inc. (AFFLIP) will be held at OREON Partners, 28 Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, 5067 South Australia on Thursday, December 4, 2025, commencing at 5:30 PM. 

Scholarships are an important part of the work that AFFLIP does to support some of the most disadvantaged students in Talomo District to stay in school. When we started 10 years ago, AFFLIP sponsored 10 scholars, we now have 354 scholars for the 2024-25 school year.

806 kids have received or are currently benefitting from a three-year scholarship since 2013.

The impact of the scholarships is profound. The funds provide for basic needs such as uniforms, shoes, books, as well as fees for other activities run through the schools.  $100 AUD supports a child for a full year of schooling, and we encourage sponsors to support each child through Grades 4 to 6 to help launch them into secondary school.

2025 Executive Board Members

Chair: Dr Yvonne Zeegers

Immediate past Chair: Mr Alastair Douglas

Secretary: Mr Rod Fagg

Treasurer: Mr Steve Southwood

We also thank retiring Board member Mr Max Greenwood for his service.

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AFFLIP's Board was delighted with the success of our 2025 major fundraiser. It was wonderful to have our first-ever Principal Dinner Sponsors, Jessica McCabe-Moran and Justin McCabe, Managing Directors of Gerard McCabe Jewellers with us, along with many other sponsors and supporters. While we are still awaiting confirmation it is expected that the night will have raised over $38 000
Thank you again to those who attended the evening and congratulations to those who placed a winning bid for one of the many fabulous auction items. 

The summative report of the Guided Reading Using Book Boxes (GRUBB) initiative has been provided to the Board and reported improved reading outcomes for year 4-6 students in Talomo District A and B, Philippines, with the project reaching over 6,700 students and training 320 teachers. Funded by AFFLIP and Magic Libraries Foundation, the program provided 27,000 books and guided reading training for teachers in Grades 4–6. Structured reading materials and workshops enhanced instruction in vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency, transforming classroom practices. Students reading at "frustration levels" dropped from 48% to 20%, while "independent reading levels" rose from 15% to 38%. GRUBB has fostered lifelong reading habits and established a sustainable literacy-focused curriculum, with we hope, lasting regional impact.