Education Reinforcement
Programs that help families to escape generational poverty
“It is easier to build strong children than fix broken men.” – Frederick Douglas
In 20+ years of serving vulnerable communities, we’ve learned that investing in children is the surest way to bring about lasting change. Our staff, volunteers and program partners operate Dream Centers in six locations. We also operate an innovative mobile education program called I Believe in Kids Education (iBIKE). All of these programs provide nourishing meals, tutoring, and access to educational resources.
Dream Centers
ER Dream Centers are after-school programs that provide safe spaces for vulnerable kids to receive hot meals, tutoring, mentoring, recreation, and spiritual instruction. Our dream is for all kids to become leaders in their homes, jobs and communities.
Cavite, Philippines
The Cavite Dream Center operates outside of Metro Manila. Our well-trained staff serves about 20 children. The parents are highly engaged and share their joy in seeing their kids learn to read, write and grow spiritually. We share a facility with a local church and plan to expand enabling us to serve more children and families through our programs.
Fish Hoek, South Africa
The Fish Hoek Dream Center is located near Cape Town and serves about 40 kids from high-poverty settlements. Most kids of these kids would not finish high school if not for the efforts of our highly experienced staff and volunteers. Some are refugees learning a new language and culture. The Fish Hoek Dream Center is our longest-tenured, operates closely with community schools, and runs several extra-curricular activities through the year.
Limpopo, South Africa Center
The Limpopo Dream Center is located in northeast South Africa and serves about 35 kids. This is a program partnership with Jabulani Africa Ministries to uplift the Limpopo community, whose leaders are determined to break free from poverty by investing in youth. During the 2021 launch we installed a community playground and are now remodeling the kitchen to serve more nutritious meals. This program is a huge light in the community and even operates openly one day a week for all children to come and experience the educational support, nutritious meals, and fun activities at the Dream Center.
Muntinlupa, Philippines
The Muntinlupa Dream center is a partnership with IT Tender in Metro Manila. It serves about 14 kids who come from the local settlement. Despite operating in a small building on donated land, the team of six leaders are providing a life-changing experience to the elementary school age kids who attend. The Dream Center is a safe space for the children to receive educational support, enjoy learning bible stories, and receive a nutritional meal. The Dream Center has goals of expanding and growing its programs to serve more children and families in the coming years.
Quito, Ecuador
The Quito Dream Center serves 40 kids who meet in the Quito Family Resource Center, a small facility we lease with the primary goal of serving the Recycling Community. At the Dream Center the kids eat nutritious meals, have access to technology to do their school work, and receive tutoring from certified local teachers. The older children also receive mentoring and leadership development coaching. For the Recycling Community, the Dream Center provides hope and opportunity for a bright future.
Taguig, Philippines
The Taguig Dream center is a partnership with Youth Mobilization in Metro Manila. It serves about 14 kids who come from the local settlement. Despite operating in a small building on donated land, the team’s six leaders are providing life-changing experiences to the elementary school age kids who attend. The kids sing, eat, pray, learn to read and write, and enjoy Bible stories and crafts.
Read Dream Centers stories here.
Mobile Education
The I Believe in Kids Education (iBIKE) program takes education into communities using a motorized tricycle loaded with teaching aids and supplies. This innovative technique requires little overhead and can easily reach new communities.
iBIKE, Makati, Philippines
The iBIKE program became part of ER’s educational offerings in 2022. The iBIKE team has several passionate leaders and reaches 50+ kids in an underserved section of Makati by bringing a motorized tricycle to their doorsteps. The vehicle features a large screen to display educational videos and presentations and holds chairs and classroom supplies.
Children are taught the basics of reading, writing, and math according to their grade level standards. They are also being developed spiritually through devotionals and as leaders through various lessons and activities. The children also get to spend time with each other and the staff in a safe community while they share nutritious meals together during every session!
Read iBIKE stories here.