Every year group of Japanese students led by Free the Children Japan visits the Philippines for an extraordinary and unforgettable experience. They didn’t come for the scenic views of Subic Bay and the mountain ranges of Zambales, these students would go on in an entirely different fieldtrip, these students would find themselves in the middle of a small Indigenous community instead—dancing, eating, sharing stories, learning Indigenous customs, and being made aware of the rights of the Indigenous peoples.
On January 21, 2026, a total of 16 students from Notre Dame High School who was accompanied by four adult facilitators, spent a three-day immersion activity, where they spent time and shared stories with the boys and girls of PREDA Foundation, the students also visited the Aeta community at Sitio Gala, Aningway, Subic, Zambales.
The collaboration between the PREDA Foundation and Free the Children-Japan strengthens immersion programs that advocate for the rights of children and indigenous communities. Far from being spectators, the students immersed themselves in the community’s reality, uncovering the gravity of child and IP rights violations and the ongoing efforts of PREDA Foundation to combat these problems.
By exposing students to these realities, the program aims to cultivate dedicated advocates for child and indigenous rights who are prepared to raise awareness on a global scale.
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