our story
At Cherish, every child matters. We exist to provide safe spaces, education, and hope for children in need around the world. Every program we create, every school we build, and every child we reach is guided by one goal: helping children thrive.
In the past two years, Cherish has focused on building a strong team and investing in partnerships. Together, we’ve laid the foundation for long-term impact:
our impact
Orphanages
Every orphanage we build provides a loving, secure environment where children can grow, play, and feel valued. These homes offer stability, nutrition, medical care, and a sense of family giving children the foundation they need to thrive.
schools
Our schools give children access to quality education that opens doors to opportunity. From basic literacy and numeracy to life skills and extracurricular programs, we equip children with the tools they need to break cycles of poverty and reach their full potential.
Community
Cherish works hand-in-hand with local leaders, families, and volunteers to create lasting change. By investing in communities, we strengthen local support systems, create jobs, and inspire neighbors to participate in shaping a brighter future for their children.
In 2023, Joanna visited Cherish for the first time. Cherish’s first partnership was with All the World Outreach in Mindanao, Philippines. Our inaugural project, Cherish Hearts Children’s Home, is temporarily on pause as we focus on strengthening our team, building sustainable partnerships, and ensuring the long-term success of future programs.
2016
In 2016, Joanna traveled to the Philippines and discovered a heart for serving children in need. She saw the challenges they faced firsthand, orphans and vulnerable kids longing for love, care, and opportunity. That experience planted the vision that would become Cherish: creating safe, nurturing spaces where children can grow, learn, and be truly cherished.
2020
In 2020, Cherish was officially launched to serve orphans and street children, beginning in the Philippines. The organization focused on providing safe homes, education, and essential care to children who had nowhere else to turn. From classrooms to meals and mentorship programs, Cherish created spaces where children could grow, learn, and experience love and hope for the future.
2021
In 2021, Cherish began partnering with local churches to reach more children in need. These partnerships helped expand programs for orphans and vulnerable kids, creating supportive communities where children could access education, mentorship, and care. Through these collaborations, more children found safe spaces to grow, learn, and be nurtured.
2022
In 2023, Joanna visited the Philippines for the first time since 2018, reconnecting with the children and communities Cherish serves. During this trip, she scouted land to build permanent schools and homes, taking a major step toward creating safe, nurturing spaces where children can grow, learn, and thrive for generations to come.
2024
In 2024, Cherish focused on turning vision into reality by planning and beginning the development of permanent schools and homes for children.