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Lubos na Alyansa ng mga Katutubong Ayta ng Sambales (LAKAS) Pamayanan has been an advocate of indigenous people’s education for a long time even before the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The organization started in literacy numeracy for the leaders and eventually ALS for out of school youth and adults.

LAKAS dreamt of having an indigenous school inside the community and because of their determination, this dream became reality. LAKAS High School was established in 2013, an Ayta school for Ayta learners and non-IP learners.

One of the long-time partners of LAKAS is the Civil Society Network for Education Reforms or E-Net Philippines. It is a national coalition of civil society organizations engaged in policy advocacy and the promotion of partnerships for education reforms. It has been committed to expand and strengthen civil society participation in reforming the Philippine education system and in developing alternative learning systems with special concern for the marginalized, excluded and vulnerable sectors (MEVS).

Youth-led Action Research (YAR) is a regional research initiative supported by Adult Education and Lifelong Learning for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE) since 2016. In the past years, the YAR focused on out-of-school youth and Alternative Learning System (ALS) students, impact of COVID-19 pandemic to the young people, mental health and well-being, among others.

This year, LAKAS Kabataan in partnership with E-Net Philippines and ASPBAE conducted a YAR that investigated deeper into the policies and practices, including perceptions, behaviors and norms, that discriminate against learners coming from different races, ethnicity and cultural identity. It studied promising practices that promote diversity and inclusion of ethnicity within the education and education systems.