Forging Partnerships for Quality of Life

In 1990, a group of theater and film artists with friends who had died of AIDS, banded together to stage Divine Miss M. The play, which was about a Filipino who died of AIDS, was just meant to be a one-time effort to shock into awareness and action, a society still denying that AIDS had become a Filipino enigma. The play generated an upwelling of local and international impetus to formally institute the first AIDS organization in the Philippines. Thus, ReachOut AIDS Education was born. More supporters and volunteers were recruited to help ReachOut. Funding support poured in. People were sent out to gain knowledge and skills through training workshops and fellowships. More videos and plays were produced. Programs targeting various populations at risk were launched.

Acknowledging that HIV/AIDS is linked to other reproductive health concerns, ReachOut strategically evolved into a reproductive health service organization. ReachOut endeavored to implement the Program of Action agreed upon at the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, Egypt) and the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, China). In 1997, the foundation was renamed as ReachOut Reproductive Health Foundation.

In recognition of the role ReachOut can play in promoting reproductive health, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, the foundation has now extended its reach in the international arena. Population experts from other countries have joined the Board of Directors and roster of consultants. At the start of this century, the foundation was finally renamed as ReachOut Foundation International to better reflect its new vision.

Goal

Within this decade, ReachOut Foundation International shall expand its services and programs in the Philippines and other neighboring countries by developing its organizational capacity, mobilizing local and international resources, and building partnerships.

Vision

ReachOut Foundation International shall strive to pursue sustainable growth and organizational excellence. It shall expand its services to key population centers in the Philippines and other neighboring countries. Above all, it aims to be recognized leader, trainer, advocate, and partner in reproductive health and gender-related issues.

Mission

ReachOut Foundation International is a Philippines-based civil society organization committed to improving the quality of life of underserved, marginalized, and vulnerable populations. It provides affordable reproductive health services and products in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, innovative, gender-sensitive, and responsible manner. To achieve these, it continuously undertakes training, information dissemination, and advocacy for policy and behavioral changes.