Clean water and digital learning projects expand from the U.S. to Southeast Asia and Latin America
SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 24, 2025 / BrightArc, a nonprofit organization founded in response to the Flint water crisis, is expanding its global infrastructure equity efforts with support from a competitive Google.org philanthropic grant. Active projects now span three continents, from Wi-Fi-enabled classrooms in the Philippines to clean water systems in Guatemala and Mississippi.
In Metro Manila, BrightArc's education access programs have already reached more than 300 low-income families through flexible stipends designed to keep students enrolled and connected. Early pilot schools have reported a 20 percent higher retention rate compared to regional averages. In 2025, the organization will launch the Tondo Digital Learning Hub, which will provide enterprise-grade Wi-Fi and preloaded classroom tablets to over 1,000 students and teachers in one of the city's most underserved informal settlements.
"These are community-rooted solutions built on trust and shared vision," said Julia G. Ko, BrightArc's founder. "Whether it's Wi-Fi in Tondo or lead-free water in Michigan, we start by listening-and we build from there."
In Latin America, BrightArc is working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity LATAM to bring household-level water filtration systems to over 1,000 families in Guatemala. The region has long struggled with waterborne disease due to untreated sewage, population pressures, and climate-linked ecosystem degradation.
In the United States, BrightArc is preparing a district-wide clean water initiative in Jackson, Mississippi, where students in public schools continue to face unsafe drinking water due to outdated infrastructure and aging systems.
The organization's work coincides with growing global investment in sustainable infrastructure. USAID recently committed $50 million to climate-resilient water technology, and Southeast Asia's digital inclusion market is projected to surpass $40 billion by 2030. Singapore's Temasek-backed ABC Fund has identified similar digital education and infrastructure models as strategic priorities for the region.
BrightArc develops clean water, digital access, and educational infrastructure in communities where systems have failed. By 2026, the organization plans to improve daily living conditions for more than 20,000 households.
About BrightArc
BrightArc is an international NGO advancing clean water, digital access, and education in underserved communities. Founded in San Francisco, California, it partners with local communities to build long-term, resilient infrastructure and is working to improve lives across the U.S., Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Media Contact
Ella Ramirez
Communications Lead
media@brightarc.ngo
https://brightarc.ngo
SOURCE: BrightArc
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