FTW Foundation

Some students are not waiting for opportunity.
They are just waiting for access.
Last week at Sisters of Mary Girlstown in Cavite, that access showed up.
Together with S&P Global, who donated laptops to the school and FTW.
But what stood out was not the donation.
It was what happened next.
Students immediately started learning:
Excel. AI tools. Hands-on skills they can use right now.
Many of these students come from the most underserved communities across the Philippines.
But sitting in that room, what you saw was not limitation.
You saw curiosity.
Effort.
And big dreams.
The most special moment:
Some of the speakers were FTW alumni who were once students in Sisters of Mary too.
They came back, not just to share stories, but to show what is possible.
And the students felt it.
“Dreams should be bigger than fears.”
“Excel can help me in my future job.”
“AI gives us more opportunities.”
Grateful to S&P Global for making this day possible, and for showing up not just as donors, but as mentors.

“I didn’t think I could do this.” “I almost quit.” “I didn’t feel like I belonged.”
These are real reflections from FTW Batch 11.
Not before the program. During it.
But they stayed. They learned. They kept going.

And slowly, something changed.
“Kaya ko pala.” “I can solve problems.” “I can do hard things.”

FTW is built on one belief:
The gap in tech is not ability.
It is access, confidence, and opportunity.
Batch 12 is opening soon: https://www.ftwfoundation.org/batch12-about

“I don’t think leadership roles are for me.”
Have you ever thought that?
Diwa did too.
Before FTW, she didn’t have data experience on her CV. Breaking into tech felt out of reach.
But one opportunity changed everything.
Through the program, she gained the skills and landed her first data role. From there, she kept going.
Today, she’s a Team Lead in Business Intelligence.

Her biggest lesson?
“You’ll never know your limits until you test them.”
Sometimes the biggest barrier isn’t ability.
It’s the moment we decide not to try.
If this feels familiar, you’re not alone.
Sometimes, one opportunity is all it takes to change your direction.