The Alumim Learning Center was inaugurated at Habay Elementary School in Bacoor, Cavite on Tuesday, 8 July.

Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines Ilan Fluss told DAILY TRIBUNE that he aims to build bridges between Israel and the Philippines by supporting education—especially among the youth.

“One of the challenges of the Philippines is education. As an embassy, we recognize this because the asset and resource is quality education, so it’s critical,” Fluss said.

He added that through the help of MASHAV — Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation — the embassy has expanded its assistance programs beyond agriculture, women’s empowerment, and medical aid to now include youth education.

“The concept of the learning center is for children to develop a form of self-learning, develop social skills, and critical thinking skills,” he said.

Fluss noted that these centers are designed to foster curiosity and make learning fun—beyond what is usually achieved in traditional classrooms.

“It [learning centers] is not a strict environment, and they don’t always have to be with the teachers,” he added.

Unlike typical classrooms filled with armchairs and desks, the learning center is furnished with bean bags and colorful puzzle-piece flooring—more akin to a playhouse, yet still deeply rooted in learning.

He emphasized his desire to approach education from a different angle, and believes that learning centers provide an ideal platform for this shift.

The name “Alumim” is a Hebrew word for “children” and also the name of a farming community in southern Israel, according to Fluss.