Our purpose
Mission statement
Project PEARLS breaks the cycle of poverty for children and families in the Philippines by providing food, education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities, so that no child’s future is limited by where they were born.
Our story
A promise that grew into a movement.
In 2008, Melissa Villa learned that her childhood friend Luz, who was deaf and mute and raising two young daughters, was struggling alone. Melissa and her daughter Francesca didn’t hesitate. They simply started helping. It was a small act. It would not stay small.
In 2010, a photograph broke Melissa’s heart open. Photojournalist Sidney Snoeck had captured Ulingan, a “charcoal factory” slum in Tondo, where children breathed toxic smoke and lived in soot-covered skin, and families survived on less than $2 a day. Looking into those children’s eyes, Melissa knew she couldn’t unsee this. So she and her family walked in, and Project PEARLS was born, with her husband, Clif, her brother, Juan, and Sidney standing fully behind her from the very start.
Three years later, hope answered. In 2013, the families of Ulingan were relocated to a clean, safe community in Bulacan. Children who had only ever known smoke and soot finally breathed clear air, then ran, played and laughed.
But Project PEARLS didn’t just rescue a community, it built one, then another, then another. Today it feeds thousands of children weekly, opens classroom doors, funds scholarships that turn survival into ambition, and gives women the tools to stand on their own, now reaching five communities across the Philippines.
One friend. One photograph. One decision to act. That is all it took to light a fire that now lights up thousands of lives.
Project PEARLS: Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smiles.
MEET THE STAFF AND BOARDOur vision
A world where no child goes hungry.
Not for food, education, shelter, medical care, or opportunities to reach their full potential.
One mission, two organizations
One purpose. One direction.
Project PEARLS is made up of two separate, legally registered nonprofits: Project PEARLS Philippines and Project PEARLS USA. Each one manages its own governance, operations, and compliance under local law, but both work toward the same mission and stay closely aligned in direction. Melissa Villa serves as Co-Founder and CEO of both organizations, which keeps the two entities working in sync and upholding the same standards of integrity.
Project PEARLS Philippines
Its on-the-ground mission is to help the poorest of the poor children build better lives by giving them PEARLS: Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love and Smiles through education, empowerment, nutrition, nourishment, and healthcare.
Transparency that earns trust
Project PEARLS USA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-2624202), which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is held to U.S. federal standards for nonprofit governance and financial accountability.
Project PEARLS Inc. in the Philippines is accredited by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC), meaning it has met recognized standards of governance, financial management, and accountability.
Project PEARLS USA
Project PEARLS USA brings together a global community united by a belief: every child deserves nourishment, an education, and a future they have the opportunity to shape. Together with families, volunteers, donors, and partners, we turn that belief into meals, learning opportunities, healthcare, and livelihoods in the Philippines. At the heart of this work are relationships, people showing up for one another, recognizing each other’s strengths, and building communities where children and families can thrive.
In the United States, our main program will be iSTORYA, a storytelling initiative that brings people together through Filipino voices, art, culture, and creative expression. Connecting Filipinos and the Filipino diaspora across generations and borders, iSTORYA will create spaces to share our stories, honor our roots, and find belonging. By making room for people to be heard and understood, we can deepen our connections, challenge prejudice, and inspire greater care for one another, because every story holds a life, and every life deserves to be valued.
Philanthropy that empowers. Impact that multiplies.
See the programsOur impact
Sixteen years of showing up.
Real change happens because people keep showing up, meal after meal, lesson after lesson, day after day. The numbers below reflect what that commitment made possible in 2025.
Behind every number is a child able to stay focused in class, a family reaching care, or a woman building a stronger future. In 2025, women artisans also generated PHP 1,550,117 in revenue through the organization’s livelihood work.
READ THE 2025 IMPACT SNAPSHOT