In a significant expansion of its educational mission, the nonprofit organization Minds on Wheels has launched its first urban Learning Drive at Labangon Elementary School in Cebu City. The initiative, which began on Friday, November 21, 2025, marks the group's strategic move into city-based literacy interventions after six years of dedicated work in rural communities across the Philippines.
Structured Support for Struggling Readers
Fifty students from Grades 3 to 5 who have been identified by the Department of Education (DepEd) as needing extra support in reading comprehension will participate in the foundation's carefully designed eight-week program. The educational model combines weekly teacher-led sessions with continuous access to a mobile library that will remain on the school campus throughout the program duration.
Each Friday session introduces learners to one storybook and ten new vocabulary words, with a clear target of eighty new words mastered by the program's conclusion. From Monday to Thursday, both students and teachers can utilize the mobile library for independent reading, classroom activities, and specialized literacy exercises. This approach specifically addresses the challenge of limited learning resources in public schools by maximizing children's exposure to books.
Expanding Impact Through Urban-Rural Comparison
Founder Chime Bell Osabel emphasized the program's fundamental purpose: "This initiative aims to strengthen comprehension early, because improving literacy can change a child's trajectory." Since 2019, Minds on Wheels has successfully completed sixteen Learning Drives in rural public schools, documenting measurable gains in vocabulary and comprehension among participating students who previously struggled with reading.
The new urban rollout represents more than just geographical expansion. The program will continue for four consecutive years from 2025 to 2028, enabling the foundation to conduct valuable comparative research on literacy improvement across different environments. This positions the initiative as one of the first NGO-led efforts in Cebu to undertake a systematic comparative study on literacy development in urban versus rural settings.
Collaborative Approach to Education
The success of the Learning Drive relies on strong partnerships with multiple organizations. Cebu Normal University has deployed student-teacher volunteers to assist with instructional sessions, while DepEd has facilitated the careful selection of learners and coordinated school logistics. Before the program launch, Project HOPE, led by Renzo and Regan King, contributed expertise in remodeling the foundation's mobile library to better serve its urban context.
Community support has been equally vital, with donors and partners providing books and learning materials now housed in the distinctive Labangon library truck. Co-founded by Osabel and Chef Angelo "Bibo" Moreno, Minds on Wheels maintains its position as an independent, non-political organization focused exclusively on literacy advocacy.
Osabel, whose mother was an educator, connects the initiative to personal motivation: "This is my way of honoring the people who taught us to dream." The organization continues to welcome book donations and learning materials at Bell + Amadeus Restaurant in Banilad, Cebu City, with plans to establish additional channels for sponsorship and volunteer support. As the program progresses, weekly updates on learner development will be shared online, maintaining transparency and community engagement.
