Mission
Bridge the gap between potential and opportunity. Give underprivileged Filipino students the resources, mentorship, and financial support to finish school and break the cycle of poverty.
Likha-Bukas, Inc.
Creating tomorrow.
Scholarships, mentorship, and school resources for underprivileged students in the Philippines. Building dreams, one future at a time.
01 — Purpose
The gap is money, support, and a way through school.
Vision
A future where a child in the Philippines can pursue an education without being stopped by family income, then lead and contribute at home.
02 — The name
Likha
Tagalog for create or build. Making something real, on purpose.
+
Bukas
Tagalog for tomorrow or the future. What is still open.
Together: Creating Tomorrow.
03 — Programs
Four levels of school support, plus a person in their corner.
These are the programs we will run. The dollar ranges are planned awards for one student for one year. No award has been made.
Grades 1–6. Supplies, uniforms, transportation, and school fees.
$100–$300
Grades 7–12. Tuition, supplies, transportation, and exam fees.
$200–$500
Accredited training, such as welding, information technology, automotive work, or cosmetology.
$500–$2,000
Tuition, books, and a living stipend for an associate or bachelor’s degree.
$1,000–$3,000
Mentorship
Each scholar is paired with a mentor for schoolwork, career plans, encouragement, and a path to internships. Contact is by video, message, and in-person visits when possible. Mentors will come from Filipino professionals, expatriates, and community partners.
School resources
Supplies, textbooks, online learning tools, test preparation, and help with college applications and fee waivers.
Community
Work with local schools and community groups. Workshops, support for libraries and computer labs, and cultural exchange between U.S. and Philippine communities.
04 — Who
Need and promise, chosen the same way every time.
How scholars will be chosen
A scholarship committee will use a written application. The tests are financial need, academic performance and potential, community involvement and character, plus a personal essay and recommendations. Schools, community organizations, and local leaders in the Philippines will help find candidates.
Where this starts
The Philippines, first. Priority goes to low-income rural communities, urban informal settlements, places hit by natural disasters, and places with little access to school resources. A wider reach inside the Philippines, and later in Southeast Asia, comes only after this works.
Selection will not discriminate by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic. The same criteria will be written down for every award cycle.
05 — People
The forming board is in Virginia Beach.
President
John P. Miller III
Also the incorporator and registered agent once Virginia formation is filed.
Secretary and Treasurer
Debs Kaye Rain Awit Miller
Records, minutes, and the books.
Director
James Hatcher
The third member of the initial board.
The first board meeting has not been held, because the corporation does not exist until Virginia issues the certificate. Directors will not be paid for serving. A conflict-of-interest policy will be adopted before any award. Two officers will have to sign every payment. The fiscal year will be the calendar year.
06 — First-year plan
A ceiling, not a bank balance.
| Category | Planned range |
|---|---|
| Scholarships | $10,000–$25,000 |
| Educational resources | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Mentorship | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Administration | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Fundraising and outreach | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Total | $15,000–$38,500 |
Nothing in that table has been raised. There are no donors yet, and receipts are not expected to pass $50,000 in any of the next three years. When giving opens, it is meant to come from individuals, sponsors, grants, events, and limited mission-related earned income.
We will publish what happened: scholarships awarded, who finished school, academic change, what scholars did next, and how much went directly to education.
Status
The page is real. The charity is not open.
What is true now
The name, mission, programs, people, and first-year plan on this page match the draft filing package. That package has not been signed or filed.
What comes next
Virginia incorporation, then the federal exemption application. Charitable giving, scholarship applications, and tax receipts will be available after that work is done. Not before.