Learning is shaped by the communities that children grow up in, the people who guide them, and the knowledge passed down through generations. For Indigenous learners, creating meaningful learning experiences also means recognizing and valuing the culture, traditions, environment, and community knowledge that shape their everyday lives.
At Adarna Group Foundation (AGFI), our vision is to make every Filipino child a reader. We believe achieving this vision requires partnerships that bring learning closer to communities and support educators who help children connect learning to their own experiences.
As part of this commitment, AGFI joined Assisi Development Foundation through its Partnerships for Indigenous Peoples Education (PIP-IPEd) Program as a resource partner for the Teachers’ Training on Culturally Grounded and Creative Teaching and Learning, held from September 18 to 22, 2026, in Davao City.
The five-day training brought together approximately 45 educators, learning partners, and Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) advocates to provide a space where they can exchange ideas and explore teaching approaches that respond to the cultural identities, experiences, and contexts of indigenous learners.
Making Learning Creative and Meaningful
As part of the training, AGFI Executive Director Con Estrella facilitated a session on “Creative Learning Pedagogies,” introducing different approaches that educators can use to make learning engaging. It also explored how storytelling enhances teaching and how stories make classroom lessons more interactive.
Bringing Community Knowledge Into the Classroom
AGFI also invited Teacher Nica Mae De Castro to facilitate “Designing Contextualized Learning Resources,” a session focused on developing teaching materials that are appropriate and relevant to Indigenous learners.
The session encouraged participants to use the materials that are already present in their communities when planning lessons and creating learning resources. This approach recognizes that learning resources do not always have to come from outside the community. The community itself holds knowledge that can enrich how children understand concepts and develop their skills.
AGFI continues to believe that building a community of readers requires more than providing access to books. It also means supporting educators and communities in creating inclusive learning environments.
Through partnerships that value culture and community knowledge, AGFI hopes to contribute to responsive learning experiences and help build stronger foundations for every Filipino child.
