Flora Awards to honor rural women educators

The Multinational Foundation Inc. (MFI), in partnership with the TOWNS Foundation, Inc., has officially launched the Filipina Achievers for Rural Education Awards (Flora) 2024, a program dedicated to recognizing the invaluable contributions of Filipino women educators in uplifting rural education.

Flora was launched in early 2022 and the inaugural awardees were recognized in May 2023.

Now on its second iteration, Flora aims to highlight the transformative impact of education on underserved communities, particularly in rural areas.

This year’s awards revolve around the theme: “Activating critical citizenship among Filipino youth through rural education.” The theme underscores the importance of equipping young Filipinos with the skills and knowledge to engage meaningfully with their communities, address social issues, and actively participate in democratic processes.

Through Flora, MFI honors women educators who have gone above and beyond traditional teaching methods, fostering innovation, critical thinking and social responsibility among their students. The awards are open to Filipino women educators in basic, higher and technical education who are based in fourth, fifth or sixth-class municipalities.

Nominees must have demonstrated innovation in addressing the challenges faced by rural communities; empowerment of students to engage with and address societal issues; and development of programs that foster active citizenship and community leadership.

MFI is a longstanding advocate of education as a tool for nation-building. As part of its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, the organization aims to develop young Filipinos into responsible, informed and active participants in society. Through its various programs, MFI focuses on addressing social issues such as misinformation, social justice and peace building in underserved areas.

TOWNS Foundation, coorganizer of the Flora Awards, is a nonprofit organization that recognizes and honors outstanding Filipino women who have made significant contributions in various fields.

Interested parties can visit the official Flora website at floraph.com for details on eligibility, nomination requirements and deadlines. Contact Dina Ocampo at [email protected].