Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation Makes History: First Southeast Asian Winner of #WeAreTogether2025 Good Deed of the Year

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Manila, Philippines – December 4, 2025 – In a groundbreaking achievement for Philippine humanitarian efforts, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation has been named one of five distinguished laureates of the internationally acclaimed INTERNATIONAL PRIZE #WEARETOGETHER2025, triumphing in the inaugural “Good Deed of the Year” category during a spectacular ceremony on December 3 at Moscow’s prestigious National Centre RUSSIA.

The coveted award was personally presented by Toily Kurbanov, Executive Coordinator and Head of UN Volunteers. This marks the first-ever victory for Southeast Asia—and the wider Asia-Pacific region—in the five-year history of the prize, solidifying the Philippines’ position as a global beacon of compassionate innovation. The Foundation outshone thousands of entries from more than 140 countries, underscoring the extraordinary impact of its work.

The #WeAreTogether International Prize honors exemplary humanitarian initiatives under the themes “Human Assistance” and “Sustainable Future.” Its esteemed jury includes notable figures such as Leonid Roshal, Head of Russia’s National Medical Chamber. Winners receive a $10,000 grant, international exposure, expert mentoring, and the unique opportunity to participate in prominent global forums—amplifying grassroots impact on a world stage. Past laureates hail from Africa (Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia), Latin America (Colombia, Argentina), Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan), and South Asia (India, Nepal), but until now, no Southeast Asian organization had claimed this prestigious recognition.

Established in 2010 following a viral story about children courageously swimming to school in Sitio Layag-Layag, Zamboanga City, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation has transformed educational access for over 300 remote Philippine public schools and communities nationwide. Beyond providing the iconic yellow school boats, the Foundation builds bridges, starter and permanent classrooms, dormitories, Educational Hubs, feeding programs, scholarships, and livelihood support for parents. It serves as an ecosystem builder fostering sustainable, impactful interventions for quality education in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA). These efforts are funded by local and foreign CSR initiatives from corporations, organizations, educational institutions, and private donors. The movement is powered by dedicated volunteers—known as Hope Paddlers—who embody the Filipino spirit of ‘bayanihan’, a unifying force ensuring no Filipino child is left behind.

Yellow Boat has grown beyond the Philippines with an active presence in the USA and a recent expansion into Indonesia through the establishment of Yayasan Perahu Kuning Indonesia (Yellow Boat of Hope Indonesia). This international growth further amplifies its mission and demonstrates the universal appeal of its vision.

This latest recognition is another feather in the Foundation’s cap, as Yellow Boat was previously named the category winner for Quality Education for All and received the top prize, the 2024 .ORG OF YEAR AWARD, bestowed by the Public Interest Registry Organization in Washington DC, USA.

This significant award, conferred during the International Forum of Civil Participation, highlights Filipino volunteerism, resilience, and innovation among finalists representing 23 countries.

Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation now stands as a profound symbol of national pride, demonstrating Southeast Asia’s emerging leadership in global volunteerism and sustainable development.