the cause.

The Philippines is a country rich in history and culture. Situated in Southeast Asia, it is home to over 84 million people. Recent statistics have shown that 30-40% of these people live below the poverty line.

The gap between the rich and the poor in the Philippines is vast – the juxtaposition for example of shopping malls and shantytowns separated only by a few miles, highlights this. For those facing severe financial hardship, education is just another ‘thing’ that they cannot afford to have.

City Gates Christian Centre (an Elim Church based in North East London) has been able to found a first-rate school in Antipolo - the City Gates Academy (CGA) is a spacious, multi-purpose facility that caters only for severely underprivileged children.

The Academy is one stage of a vision that City Gates Christian Centre has for the Antipolo; the London church aims to serve the community by implementing a number of community projects that seek to meet the immediate needs of the area.

Since its opening in 2005, the Academy has opened its doors to 40 children who now benefit from an invaluable education. The school aims to invest heavily into the lives of its students, equipping them with the powerful tool that is education. Their vision is to see their students graduate, and use their education as a stepping stone out of poverty.