The Stairway Foundation Inc. (SFI) was registered with the SEC as a non-stock, non-profit corporation on August 3,1994. It was conceived in 1990 by Lars C. Jorgensen and his wife Monica Ray primarily as an alternative approach for the protection of children at risk in the Philippines. It is an operating organization. Its main office is located at Bgy Aninuan, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. The foundation has 30 regular staff, and 7 members of the Board of Trustees.
The SFI is a Community-based and Residential Resource Learning Center that provides program and activities for the promotion and protection of children’s rights with focus on “creative expressions” in accordance with the principles of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Children.
The following are its programs and activities:
- Advocacy and Capacity Building- this promotes the protection of children both locally and internationally with focus on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention (CSAEP). Activities include production of creative advocacy materials, development and training of local and international child protection network, advocacy theatre and grassroots training in aftercare.
- Treatment of Sexually Abused Children – individual and group counseling and therapeutic strategies thru creative expressions and Arts.
- Residential Family Home- one year residential program where abused children are provided education, life-skills and livelihood development through alternative learning experiences.
- Community Assistance- this program targets the Mangyan minority thru educational assistance, environmental awareness and feeding program in a school for indigenous children.
- Youth for Change Program – this program aims to contribute to addressing pressing global environmental issues such as plastic pollution and climate change. Activities under this program include camps and workshops, leadership training and theatre presentation.
