Bringing people together was central to Pope Francis’ vision. Despite differences in faith, background, social class and political beliefs, he envisioned creating spaces where individuals could collaborate, uplift one another and discover common ground.

For young people, that vision took shape through art, sports and education.

During Argentina’s economic and social crisis in 2001, then-Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Bergoglio, alongside two educators, founded the Schools of Encounter. The initiative brought students from diverse backgrounds together to discuss issues affecting young people and formulate practical solutions.

The initiative eventually became the pontifical foundation Scholas Occurrentes after Bergoglio became Pope Francis in 2013. From its inception, Francis emphasized that Scholas was not intended to be exclusively Catholic, envisioning it as a secular movement open to young people regardless of faith, ethnicity or political background.

What began in Argentina has since expanded internationally, with Scholas developing programs that encourage youth to engage in dialogue, mutual understanding and civic participation.

Arrival in the Philippines

In the Philippines, Scholas’ mission is carried out through the Schools of Encounter Foundation Inc., led by Ma. Clara “Kim” Acuña-Camacho as president and chairperson. The foundation serves as Scholas Occurrentes’ official Philippine partner, working with Executive Director Rayla Allertsen and Sevi Santos, founder of Summit School BGC.

Acuña-Camacho said she and her husband, Jose Isidro “Lito” Camacho, a former Philippine secretary of finance and energy, were invited to the Vatican by Pope Francis to commit to establishing the foundation in the Philippines.

The partnership seeks to introduce Scholas’ educational approach to Filipino youth.

With the assistance of Scholas representatives Manuel “Manu” Deza and Delfina Bejar, the organization is establishing its initial presence in the country.

Deza began as a Scholas volunteer in 2015 and now serves as its director for education. Bejar began volunteering in 2021 while completing her degree in international studies and now serves as a project manager overseeing Scholas’ operations in Asia. Both have managed international youth programs centered on dialogue and community engagement.

“Our main mission is to open a space for them, to tell them that they are not alone, that there’s an educational community that wants to listen to them, and give them a safe space to be themselves,” Deza said.

The Philippine program begins with a two-day gathering at Quezon City Science High School on 19–20 September 2026, for youth aged 13 to 17. The program provides participants a venue to speak, listen to one another and reflect on community issues.

Quezon City is the first city in the Philippines to support the Scholas initiative, with backing from Mayor Joy Belmonte and Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Carleen Sedilla.

Allertsen noted that the gathering represents the initial step in establishing the organization’s national footprint.

“This is the first seed. As we take root in the Philippines, we will start here,” Allertsen said, adding that the organization will continue working with local communities to help young people recognize that their voices matter.

From dialogue to action

The next phase, titled Communities in Motion, is scheduled for January 2027. The initiative will bring together approximately 300 students from 30 public and private schools.

Over three days, participants will engage in structured dialogue, reflection and collaborative problem-solving alongside peers from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Together, they will identify specific issues affecting their communities and formulate response strategies.

Following the conference, participating students will return to their respective schools to share key takeaways with classmates, encouraging broader student participation in localized outreach projects.

Bejar emphasized that the initiative prioritizes local community engagement over large-scale metrics.

“Although it looks small, it’s good to see how they feel when they know they can do something for their communities,” Bejar said. “It’s not about thinking of big projects to change the entire world or country. It’s about helping your immediate community.”

Through this framework, Scholas and its local partners aim to help young people consider differing perspectives while taking active roles in community development.