Our
Advocacy
Empowering dreams,
one student at a time
The ISA Scholarship Program Philippines is a beacon of hope for underprivileged yet academically gifted students across the country.
Our mission is clear: to bridge the gap between adversity and opportunity. Through collaboration, mentorship, and unwavering support, we go beyond providing scholarships, we are building futures and shaping tomorrow’s leaders, one bright mind at a time.
Through collaboration, mentorship, and unwavering support, we're not just nurturing scholars, we're building the youth's future, one bright mind at a time. Join us in this transformative journey.
Crossing Rivers, Building Bridges: The Story of the ISA Scholarship Program
In the rural villages of Cagayan Valley, a young girl once crossed rivers barefoot every day just to get to school. Rain or shine, she carried her books and lunch above her head, determined not to let the waters stop her from learning. That girl was Dona Taguinod Leach — and the lessons of resilience she carried as a child would one day grow into a mission to help others cross their own rivers of hardship.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2019, many Filipino students faced unimaginable loss. Families lost their income, children dropped out of school, and dreams were put on hold. Dona, by then living in Australia, remembered her own struggles and decided to act. In 2021, she launched the ISA Scholarship Program through ISA Australia.
What began with five students in partnership with the Department of Education has since grown into a movement. Today, ISA has:
- Supported 32 scholars with full scholarships and ongoing mentorship.
- Forged partnerships with 10 public schools and one higher education institution across six municipalities in Cagayan Valley.
- The following public schools are:
- Calaoagan Dackel National High School Annex (Capissayan Sur) scholars
- Calaoagan Dackel National High School
- Rebecca National High School
- Sta. Teresita National High School
- Itawes National Agricultural and Technical School (Tuao)
- Cabayabasan National High School
- Gattaran National High School
- Don Mariano Marcos National High School
- Western Cagayan School of Arts and Trades
- Logac National High School
- The following higher education partners are:
- Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines
- International School of Asia and the Pacific
- Built a program that combines financial aid, mentorship, pastoral care, and leadership development to ensure students not only stay in school, but thrive.
For Dona, ISA is about more than numbers. “Every scholar represents a dream rekindled, a future reshaped, and a community one step closer to upliftment,” she says.
The ISA Scholarship Program is not charity. It is a bridge — built on resilience, compassion, and shared responsibility between schools, families, and communities.
ISA Scholarship Program
Policy Framework
With Itawes National Agricultural and Technical School along with the Principal and School leaders.
This 10-point framework transforms the ISA Scholarship Program from a financial aid initiative into a comprehensive policy model that unites schools, families, communities, and alumni in a shared responsibility for student success. It is both a policy intervention (building governance structures and safeguards) and a visionary act (creating sustainable pathways that empower rural Filipino talent to thrive globally).
1.
Fair & Transparent Section
Students are chosen through a clear, merit-based process that balances academic ability with financial need. This ensures that only those who are both high-achieving and genuinely underprivileged are awarded scholarships. The process safeguards fairness, honesty, and integrity at every stage.
2.
Structured Mentorship by Educators
Principals and teachers serve as formal mentors, providing academic guidance, life skills support, and moral encouragement. Mentors conduct regular check-ins, ensuring scholars not only excel in school but also develop resilience and confidence in their personal lives.
3.
Safeguards Against Misuse of Funds
School leaders sign agreements to guarantee that scholarship funds are used exclusively for the student’s education. These safeguards ensure the integrity of the program and protect resources from being diverted away from their intended purpose.
4.
Parental & Guardian Partnership
Parents and guardians enter into formal agreements confirming that stipends will be used solely for school-related needs such as transportation, uniforms, meals, or learning materials. Families are also engaged as active partners in the scholar’s pastoral care and emotional well-being, reinforcing a shared responsibility for success.
5.
Community Validation
Local community leaders issue Certificates of Indigency to confirm a student’s financial hardship. This validation ensures that scholarships are directed to the students who need them most, strengthening transparency and trust with the wider community.
6.
Ongoing Monitoring & Term Reports
At the end of each school term, students and their mentors submit reports covering academic performance, participation in school activities, and any challenges faced. This enables ISA to track progress, intervene when needed, and ensure scholars are receiving holistic support.
7.
Development & Leadership Plans
Each scholar works with their mentor to establish personalised academic and leadership development plans. These plans set measurable goals and encourage participation in leadership roles, preparing scholars not only to succeed academically but to become changemakers in their communities.
8.
Program Accountability & Transparency
ISA produces annual program-wide reports outlining scholar progress, fund allocation, and overall impact. This reinforces accountability to schools, families, and the wider community, ensuring stakeholders can see and trust the tangible results of the program.
9.
Alumni & Peer Mentorship
Graduated scholars are encouraged to remain connected to the program as peer mentors and role models. This creates a cycle of leadership and giving back, ensuring that each generation of scholars helps guide and inspire the next.
10.
Holistic Well-Being & Safeguarding
The program places equal value on academic achievement and student well-being. Mentorship structures include checks for emotional health, safety, and personal development, with referrals to appropriate support services when needed. This ensures that scholars are nurtured as whole individuals, not just as students.
1. Fair & Transparent Selection
Students are chosen through a clear, merit-based process that balances academic ability with financial need. This ensures that only those who are both high-achieving and genuinely underprivileged are awarded scholarships. The process safeguards fairness, honesty, and integrity at every stage.
2. Structured Mentorship by Educators
Principals and teachers serve as formal mentors, providing academic guidance, life skills support, and moral encouragement. Mentors conduct regular check-ins, ensuring scholars not only excel in school but also develop resilience and confidence in their personal lives.
3. Safeguards Against Misuse of Funds
School leaders sign agreements to guarantee that scholarship funds are used exclusively for the student’s education. These safeguards ensure the integrity of the program and protect resources from being diverted away from their intended purpose.
4. Parental & Guardian Partnership
Parents and guardians enter into formal agreements confirming that stipends will be used solely for school-related needs such as transportation, uniforms, meals, or learning materials. Families are also engaged as active partners in the scholar’s pastoral care and emotional well-being, reinforcing a shared responsibility for success.
5. Community Validation
Local community leaders issue Certificates of Indigency to confirm a student’s financial hardship. This validation ensures that scholarships are directed to the students who need them most, strengthening transparency and trust with the wider community.
6. Ongoing Monitoring & Term Reports
At the end of each school term, students and their mentors submit reports covering academic performance, participation in school activities, and any challenges faced. This enables ISA to track progress, intervene when needed, and ensure scholars are receiving holistic support.
7. Development & Leadership Plans
Each scholar works with their mentor to establish personalised academic and leadership development plans. These plans set measurable goals and encourage participation in leadership roles, preparing scholars not only to succeed academically but to become changemakers in their communities.
8. Program Accountability & Transparency
ISA produces annual program-wide reports outlining scholar progress, fund allocation, and overall impact. This reinforces accountability to schools, families, and the wider community, ensuring stakeholders can see and trust the tangible results of the program.
9. Alumni & Peer Mentorship
Graduated scholars are encouraged to remain connected to the program as peer mentors and role models. This creates a cycle of leadership and giving back, ensuring that each generation of scholars helps guide and inspire the next.
10. Holistic Well-Being & Safeguarding
The program places equal value on academic achievement and student well-being. Mentorship structures include checks for emotional health, safety, and personal development, with referrals to appropriate support services when needed. This ensures that scholars are nurtured as whole individuals, not just as students.
