Dubai OFWs Pay it Forward with Scholarships for Filipino Students

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A group of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based in Dubai have independently launched scholarship programs, collectively benefiting 30 students in the Philippines to date. Marilyn Flores Castro, owner of Pinas Group of Companies, shared her lifelong dream to assist students facing financial barriers to education, having been a recipient of scholarships herself during her schooling. Castro, who started with a balikbayan box enterprise in 2014, now manages six diverse businesses. Her Pinas Cargo Scholarship Program, initiated in 2018, currently supports 25 scholars, with 22 pursuing their studies within the Philippines. Separately, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants – Dubai (PICPA-Dubai) has also established a scholarship initiative for children to complete their K-12 education. This program currently aids five children, with plans to support five more in 2026. Lyndon Magsino, PICPA-Dubai founder and head, described it as a "simple yet meaningful mission to help children from less fortunate families in the Philippines pursue their education and build a brighter future." The scholarship fund is sustained through contributions from PICPA-Dubai members, event participants, sponsors, and donors. These initiatives highlight the commitment of OFWs to giving back to their home country by providing educational opportunities to underprivileged Filipino youth.