About the Foundation

Who we are

The Foundation is committed to protecting, empowering and transforming the lives of vulnerable children and families. It was founded on the belief that every child deserves hope, protection, opportunity and a future, whatever their circumstances.

Children with a parent in detention face problems that are hard to see from outside: disrupted schooling, emotional distress, money trouble, weaker care at home, social stigma, and fewer of the opportunities a child needs to grow up well.

When the parent in detention is a mother, the effects spread far beyond the jail. Children are often left with relatives who have little to spare, moved into unstable homes, or left without emotional and financial support at the ages they need it most. Without timely help, the risks of dropping out of school, neglect, trauma, poverty, exclusion and disadvantage passed down through generations all grow.

The Foundation was set up to break that cycle: not only to give assistance, but to bring about long-term change through help that is responsive, centered on the child, and strengthens the family.

Its name joins kid and infinity. Its mark draws the infinity sign with a child’s face in one loop and a star at its tip.

Why we work with mothers too

The Foundation believes that helping children cannot happen in isolation. Children remain its first priority, but supporting their mothers and caregivers, especially mothers who are incarcerated, is part of any approach that lasts.

So the Foundation works with mothers on livelihood, legal support, psychosocial support and preparation for release. The aim is a stronger family, and better outcomes for the children both during a mother’s detention and after it.

That is why it runs four programs, not one: KIDS and YAKAP for the children, and SINULID ng Pag-asa and LAYA for their mothers.

Every child deserves a future beyond circumstance.

The Foundation’s founding belief

What guides our work

The Foundation’s founding document sets four tests for every kind of help it gives. Each one shows up in a specific rule or practice.

Fair

The same rules for every family. A standard Beneficiary Selection and Prioritization System decides who is served first, and every scholar is held to the same 85% standard, whatever kind of report card their school issues.

Based on evidence

Decisions rest on records. Each report card is checked by a Foundation reviewer. Each activity is written up in a field report. The research behind the Foundation’s work, and its limits, is published on The Issue page.

Compassionate

Falling short is a reason to help. A scholar below the standard is offered tutoring. A mother who misses activities is first offered support, communication and a fair chance to put things right.

Responsive to actual need

Priority goes to the children and families who are most vulnerable. How long support lasts is decided case by case, from the child’s educational need, the mother’s detention status, readiness for reintegration and the results of an annual assessment.

The Founder, in her own words

Athalia Marie Villaraza Suarez founded Kidfinity and Beyond and leads its work in person: at the jail with the mothers and children, and in meetings with partners. She calls the Foundation her labor of love.

Before the Foundation’s first orientation, she recorded a video message for the families. It was played in the hallway of the Makati City Jail on 19 July 2026. This is what she said.

Read it in Filipino, as she said it

Hello po sa inyong lahat! Magandang araw! Ako po si Athalia Suarez, at gusto ko po kayong i-welcome sa kauna-unahang orientation ng Kidfinity and Beyond Foundation!

Ako po ay masaya dahil nandito kayong lahat ngayon. Talagang pinaghandaan po namin ang araw na ito. Masaya po akong nandito kayong lahat: ang ating mga nanay, at ang kanilang mga pamilya. Ang makita kayo rito ay talaga pong mahalaga sa akin. Kaya maraming salamat po sa oras, at maraming salamat po sa pagpunta.

Para sa mga hindi po nakakaalam, ang Kidfinity and Beyond ay hindi lang isang proyekto para sa akin. Ito po ay aking labor of love, isang bagay na talaga namang malapit sa aking puso.

Kahit bata pa po ako, gusto ko na pong gumawa ng pagbabago sa buhay ng iba ring mga bata, dahil alam ko kung gaano kahalaga para sa mga bata ang lumaking may tamang suporta. Ang bawat bata ay dapat na maramdamang sila ay ligtas, sila ay naiintindihan, at sila ay minamahal. Dahil kapag may pagmamahal at suporta, mas kaya nilang mangarap.

Alam kong hindi madali ang mga bagay para sa inyo. Pero gusto ko pong malaman niyong nakikita namin kayo, naiintindihan namin kayo, at mahal namin kayo. Nandito po ang Kidfinity para sa inyo.

Super excited na po akong makilala kayong lahat! Sabik na po akong makausap kayo, marinig ang inyong mga kuwento, makasama ang inyong mga pamilya, at maka-bonding kayo. Dahil hindi lang po ito isang event, nandito po tayo para maging isang pamilya.

Kaya ulit po, welcome sa unang orientation ng Kidfinity and Beyond Foundation! Salamat sa pagtitiwala sa amin, at salamat sa pagpunta. See you all soon!

A video message played to the mothers and children at the Foundation’s first briefing and orientation, Makati City Jail, 19 July 2026. Athalia spoke in Filipino. The English is a close translation.

Who can receive support

Help must be fair, based on evidence, compassionate and matched to real need. The Foundation uses a standard Beneficiary Selection and Prioritization System, so assistance is given out transparently and objectively, with priority for the children and families who are most vulnerable.

Mothers and children must also meet the conditions in the Foundation’s terms, which every participating mother reads and signs.

Mothers

• She is a person deprived of liberty in the lawful custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
• She has legal or duly recognized parental authority over the child.
• She does not pose a security risk to the child, other members, or the Foundation’s staff.
• She shows respectful behavior, takes part responsibly, and reasonably follows the activities, child safeguarding standards and guidelines of the Foundation and the jail management.

If a mother repeatedly misses activities, or there are concerns about behavior or the program, the Foundation first offers support, communication, coordination with the child’s caregiver, guidance, and a reasonable chance to put things right. Only then is her place reassessed, suspended or ended.

Children

• The child is the biological or legally adopted child of the incarcerated mother.
• The child is 21 years old or younger at the time of enrollment.
• The child has complete birth records or valid identification documents.

The Foundation asks for proof of the relationship between mother and child, such as a birth certificate.

What the Foundation asks of mothers

At the orientation, the Foundation also set out what it would ask of mothers in return for its support.

• Take an active partActive participation
• Keep their information up to datePag-update ng impormasyon
• Coordinate with the FoundationPakikipag-coordinate sa Kidfinity
• Join the activities where they canPagsali sa activities kung maaari
• Support their child’s studiesPagsuporta sa pag-aaral ng anak

From the slide shown to mothers at the briefing and orientation on 19 July 2026. The original wording, in Filipino, is in grey.

How long support lasts

• A mother is supported for the full length of her detention.
• After her release, the Foundation may give up to one year of transition support for family reintegration, livelihood recovery, parenting adjustment and stabilization.
• A child stays eligible until one year after the mother’s release. The mother’s detention status is taken into account when assistance to the child is continued.
• Age alone does not end assistance. A child who reaches the age limit while enrolled may continue to receive support until the end of the current term.

Beyond that, how long assistance continues is decided case by case, looking at the beneficiary’s age and educational level at enrollment, continuing educational need, the mother’s detention status, readiness for reintegration, the results of the annual assessment and the Foundation’s available resources.

From the Foundation’s Terms and Conditions for Mothers Deprived of Liberty and their Children, given to mothers at the briefing and orientation on 19 July 2026.

Apply for support

The academic standard, and why it exists

Scholars in the KIDS Program upload their report card each grading period, and their educational assistance continues while they keep a grade of 85% or higher in every subject.

The standard is not there to remove children. It is there so that the Foundation hears early when a scholar is struggling, and can help. A scholar who falls short is placed under academic review, offered tutoring and followed up at the next grading period.

How the KIDS Program works

2026 so far

The Foundation’s first activities, oldest first. Each has a full field report, with photographs.

1. 1 July 2026

   Partnership Visit to Museo Pambata

   The Foundation met Museo Pambata’s president to discuss joint programs for children of incarcerated mothers, and a possible partnership with Khan Academy Philippines on tutoring.

2. 19 July 2026

   Briefing and Orientation

   The Foundation presented its vision, mission and four programs to the mothers and children it serves, explained its terms and conditions, and signed agreements with the mothers.

3. 16 August 2026

   Balik-Eskwela Kits Distribution

   Every child beneficiary received a school bag and grade-appropriate school materials for the new school year. Congressman David “Jay-Jay” C. Suarez attended.

People

The Foundation was founded by Athalia Marie Villaraza Suarez and is led by its President. It is governed by a Board of Directors. These are the people named in its field reports so far.

• Athalia Marie Villaraza SuarezFounder
• Mr. Jeffrey P. JumarangBoard of Directors
• Mr. James Bryan Z. TenaBoard of Directors
• Mr. Joel RanudaSocial worker
• Mr. Daryl A. BalderasHost of the Foundation’s events
• Mr. Joselito (Joey) D. Villamor Jr.Host of the Foundation’s events

Who we work with

• Makati City Jail, Female Dormitory
  Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. The jail hosted the Foundation’s orientation and its first distribution, and has pledged its full support to the Foundation’s goals.
• Museo Pambata
  The children’s museum in Manila. Partnership talks began on 1 July 2026 on programs the two organizations could run together.
• Khan Academy Philippines
  A possible partnership on tutoring, raised during the Museo Pambata visit. Not yet agreed.

At the Makati City Jail

Officers of the jail have opened both of the Foundation’s events there.

• JINSP Roselyn B. RiveraJail Senior Inspector. Remarks were given on her behalf at both events at the jail.
• SJO4 Jennelyn R. AguirreSenior Jail Officer IV. Opened the orientation on 19 July 2026.
• SJO1 Cristina LabayoSenior Jail Officer I. Opened the Balik-Eskwela Kits Distribution on 16 August 2026.

Congressman David “Jay-Jay” C. Suarez, the Founder’s father, has consistently supported the Foundation’s advocacy and mission. He attended the Balik-Eskwela Kits Distribution with Atty. Jazmin Deborah Yrreverre and Atty. Athena Christa De Mesa, and met Museo Pambata’s president during the Foundation’s visit there.

Governance

The Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit corporation. It works in coordination with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the administration of the Makati City Jail.

It reports on its own work in public. Every activity is written up in a field report that names who took part and what was given, and report card decisions are recorded by the Foundation.

For the Foundation’s registration details and financial statements, write to the Secretariat at kidfinityandbeyond@gmail.com.