About Espoir
ESPOIR School Of Life is a non-profit organization that provides free education to underprivileged children at the heart of Brgy. Lobogon, Del Carmen in the Philippines.
The first school is located on Siargao Island. The site is on a Gawad Kalinga (GK) resettlement area, whose community members were identified as landless persons living in danger zones who had little to no means to sustain themselves.
Espoir, “hope” in French, means hope for the children, hope for their families, and hope for their generations to come. Hope starts with the children, with the right education.
Our History
Espoir was founded by Frenchman Nicolas Gontard and his wife Bellce Gontard in 2016 with the help of its Directors Amy Dallison, Elizabeth and Martin Roces, Father Raphael Siapno and Pamela Arcangel.
The location of the school was decided after consulting the Department of Education. The local government of Siargao Island and the Gawad Kalinga (GK) NGO gave access to land to Espoir in the GK village of Lobogon to build the school.
Director Amy Dallison and Project Manager Joel Chamberlain spent a considerable of time pro bono in Siargao in 2016. Amy was in charge of establishing first contact with the local government and the DepEd, setting the curriculum, writing the school rules for students and the “sweat equity” program requiring parents to contribute time in exchange for a free education for the kids.
Joel was the Project Manager in charge of the construction of the first classroom and gardens, testing various design elements and eco-friendly products to establish a standard for future buildings.
The first classroom was called AMEL, a combination of their first names, in recognition for their unselfish contribution to ESPOIR.
The initial investment was made by Nicolas and Bellce Gontard to cover the construction of the first classroom and the first year of operations. The objective was to ensure that external funding and donations would only start once the project was well under way, with the NGO registered, the first classroom built, the first teacher hired and the first school year completed.
Nicolas and Bellce will continue to inject money every year, but due to the size of the project which will provide education from Kindergarten (K) to High School (Year 2) to potentially up to 300 students, donors and sponsors are needed for the long term sustainability of the project.
Our Mission
Create a culture of belonging through a community development model and deliver liberating programs and projects to provide inclusive education to underprivileged learners in a safe and healthy environment.
Our Vision
We envision a welcoming and inclusive community providing self-sustainable opportunities to improve quality of life through free quality education.
Our Core Values
We teach them life skills such as respect, team work, family, pride, love, tolerance, compassion, gender equality and environmental sustainability. Education is free of charge.
Our Work
Espoir School
ESPOIR School of Life, Inc., established in 2016, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free education to underprivileged children and implementing community development projects for families. It is situated at the heart of the first resettlement community on Siargao Island, in Barangay Lobogon, Del Carmen, Philippines, where residents had relocated due to hazardous living conditions and lack of land ownership opportunities.
The goal of establishing Espoir School is to create a nurturing environment where every child can receive not just education, but also the care and support they deserve for their health and well-being. This vision came to life through a meaningful partnership with the Municipality of Del Carmen, under a 25-year usufruct agreement.
Espoir Community
In 2019, the Espoir Community was established with the aim to further support families and communities by equipping them with skills and resources to generate additional income. Recognizing the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and social cohesion, we not only provide tailored trainings but also cultivate a supportive environment where individuals feel valued and connected. Through collaborative efforts and a shared sense of purpose, we strive to empower individuals and families, fostering economic resilience, social belongingness, and sustainable livelihoods within the community.
Espoir, meaning “hope” in French, encapsulates the essence of our mission — hope for the children, hope for their families, and hope for future generations. We firmly believe that hope begins with the children, through the provision of quality education.
Meet Our Team
Nicolas Gontard
Founder
Jerlyn Rabaca
Program Director
Department Officers
Joana Marice Guilaran
Administrative Officer
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Partnership Officer
Jomariefel Belarmino
OIC – Sustainability Officer
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Finance Officer
Mary Jane Paredes
Bookkeeper/Registrar
Aris Medel Dausin
Operations In-charge
Shalom Faith Agutaya
IT/Graphic Designer
School Teachers
Nikka Mae Gorgolon
Nursery
Queenie Marie Oliva
Kindergarten
Rachel Anne Adriano
Grade 1
Mary Ann Pateño
Grade 2
Aiza Dela Cruz
Grade 3
Luzvim Blase
Grade 4
Ranelo Borja
Grade 5
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Grade 6
Our Awards
Galing Pook Awards
ESPOIR SCHOOL OF LIFE is one of the finalists for the 2023 Galing Pook Citizenship Awards!
The Galing Pook Citizenship Awards is searching for civil society organizations (CSOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), social enterprises or private entities that contribute to building safe, sustainable, and smart (3S) communities.
FAFSA National Award 2024
Espoir School of Life received awards at the 26th Anniversary and Annual Convergence of the Federation of Associations for Private School Administrators, held on April 4 and 5 in Cebu City.
Espoir School of Life was represented by its Program Director, Ms. Jerlyn Rabaca, who was awarded in the category of school administrator. Meanwhile, Sir Nicolas Gontard, the founder of Espoir, was honored in the school founder category.