2024 FLORA

2024 Mechanics of FLORA

Purpose of FLORA Awards

The Filipina Achievers in Rural Education Award (FLORA) recognizes the outstanding contributions of Filipino women in rural education. Through FLORA, Multinational Foundation, Inc. (MFI) aims to emphasize the importance of effective and innovative approaches to bring quality education to rural communities.  MFI has designated The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Foundation as the organizer/search committee for the FLORA Award.

For this year’s FLORA, Multinational Foundation, Inc. (MFI) will give recognition to women educators with outstanding innovative projects that activate critical citizenship among Filipino youth through rural education.

Eligibility

Duration of the innovative project: at least a semester (or 5 months)

Selection Criteria

• Filipino citizen 
• Women educators in Basic, Higher and/or Technical Education in 4th, 5th, or 6th class municipalities 
• Developed and implemented an innovative project that activated critical citizenship among Filipino youth
• Period of implementation of the innovative project:  between April 1, 2022 and  March  31, 2024

FLORA 2024 Theme:  Activating Critical Citizenship among Filipino Youth through Rural Education

In line with this year’s theme, nomination documents will be evaluated according to the following criteria and their corresponding weights:

1. The Critical Citizenship Education Project  (35%) 

Critical Citizenship is a core 21st-century competence that all youth and adults must develop and use to be able to participate meaningfully in local and global communities. The development of critical citizenship entails numerous capacities among students such as the capacity to learn and to understand the cultures of people that differ from their own. Another skill is the ability to identify and choose ethical and moral actions rather than unjust and unfair practices.  Equally important is the ability to critically discern falsehoods and misinformation about key issues affecting the well-being of society such as peace, mental health and wellness, gender fairness, climate change, fake news, the weaponization of the internet, care for the environment, and social justice.

Evaluators seek women educators who developed project/s that activated critical citizenship among Filipino youth that were implemented in schools/educational institutions.  These project/s must:

• Educate and equip young people to understand and engage with society including politics, media, economy, and law;
• Develop in the youth self-confidence and enable them to speak be and heard, take responsibility for their communities and selves, and contribute to peaceful socio-political processes;
• Develop educated and responsible learners who contribute positively to communities and the larger society;
• Educate learners to become active citizens and participate in the democratic process through mutual respect and in agreement with social justice and human rights;
• Prepare the youth for greater responsibilities, address opportunities and challenges in later life;
• Empower learners and build learners’ confidence and beliefs in their potential as positive change agents of society.
• Empower learners with the understanding that leaders are accountable to constituents and should show proof of accomplishments that have led to the improvement of the quality of life of all community members. 

These innovations must demonstrate:

• Creativity in their design and use. 
• Relevance and responsiveness to the prevailing needs, challenges, and circumstances of learners/schools/peers. 
• Resourcefulness and adaptability in developing strategies materials or activities for teaching/learning. 

2. Effectiveness and Learner Impact (35%) 

The essence of good quality learning project/s lies in their effectiveness and impact on the learners. Some materials or approaches may be sound but eventually fail to lead to real learning. Others may be beautifully crafted but may not inspire deep thinking. Educational innovations that are effective and impactful leave a lasting influence on our learners that helps secure their future.

Evaluators seek women educators whose learning materials and teaching approaches show:

• Proof of learning among target learners. There is observable change and improvement in learners’ understanding of concepts, performance of the associated skills, and articulation of related ideas resulting from the use of materials, methods, and activities of the project/s.
• Potential for sustainability; replicability; and scalability of innovations. The project must have the potential for application or use in other locales with similar conditions and have a wide reach among the target cohort of learners.
• Mobilization, Utilization, and management of resources. The women educators must have proof that available resources were mobilized and organized as needed in developing and implementing the project/s. They must show that the same resources were used responsibly without causing loss or undue strain on anyone. There must be evidence that the resources used were competently managed and controlled.  
• Excellence in implementation and attainment of the goals of innovative practices. The innovative project/s was/were skillfully executed to enable learners to attain the key competencies of critical citizenship. 

3. Personal and Professional Integrity (15%)

FLORA women are envisioned to be role models to Filipino women, particularly those who come from humble beginnings. They embody the ideals of a caring mother, a dutiful daughter, a loyal friend, a responsible co-worker, and a productive community member.    Filipino women educators are the bedrock of schools and institutions. Intelligent, tenacious, and resilient – they provide stability and continuity in our people’s education. Evaluators seek women educators who:

• Are law-abiding and responsible citizens. A FLORA woman follows laws, rules, regulations, and procedures and shows responsibility and accountability for her choices and actions. She does not violate life or property. She pays her taxes, exercises her right to vote, and secures all documents and permits needed to carry out her duties as an educator with dignity and honor.
• Possess professional ethics. A FLORA woman keeps the highest standards of honesty — true in word and deed and accepting of her own strengths and weaknesses. She demonstrates the core values of a good educator: a) integrity, b)respect, c) responsibility, d) desire for new knowledge, e) excellence, and f) collegiality or community spirit. A FLORA woman shows genuine care and compassion for the learner.
• Have initiative and teacher agency. A FLORA woman displays purposeful commitment to developing her own growth and enables the growth of her co-workers.

4. Contributions to Community (15%)

FLORA women recognize that they are part of a larger community beyond themselves, their families, and their clan. They understand that real progress cannot be attained unless each member of their community is free from poverty, ignorance, and abuse. Evaluators seek women educators who:

• Demonstrate critical citizenship.  A FLORA woman walks the talk and shows learners and community members that she is the change we all want to see in society.  She demonstrates through active participation in advocacies that promote the health and well-being of persons, institutions, organizations, and Mother Earth and her resources. 
• Effect behavior changes among members of their communities. A FLORA woman educator promotes a growth mindset among the learners. They inspire hard work and dedication in achieving personal goals.
• Make an impact on their communities. A FLORA woman educator’s innovations provide learners and their families with new opportunities for a better, more secure, and dignified life. Their innovations motivate others to pursue related projects that benefit the communities. FLORA women are not hesitant to link with other services and offices in the community because they understand the intricate networking involved in a community’s total development.
• Are recognized by peers/external community. A FLORA woman knows with humility that every good work must be shared; if only to benefit more people and not to call attention to herself. Her work gives credence to her character and worth. She is recognized, written, and spoken about, and celebrated by her own peers and communities.

Award

The Award shall provide a cash prize of P100,000, a trophy, and a plaque for each awardee.  

Nomination Process, Awarding Procedures, and Timeline

• February 28, 2025 – Extended Deadline for Accepting Nominations

• March 1 to April 21 — Judging period

• TBA – Recognition of Awardees