Meet Tony Rose: Our Coin Grantee from Bani, Pangasinan

Tony Rose, 18, is an incoming first-year college student from Bani, Pangasinan, who plans to pursue a degree in Information Technology. Her interest in computers developed early, shaped by her late father’s work as a computer technician and her mother’s involvement in the IT field. She hopes to develop skills in programming and other in-demand tech fields to address real-world problems and create better opportunities for her family.

She was seven when her father passed away. Since then, her mother has raised three children alone through a small printing business, earning around ₱5,000 a month. The income is primarily used for food, bills, school expenses, and daily necessities, leaving little room for a personal computer or stable internet access. Throughout her studies, Tony Rose relied on borrowed devices, outdated public library computers in their town, and occasional use of the family’s printing shop's only computer after business hours, which required commuting from home.

As she prepares for college, Tony Rose has expressed serious concern about the long-term affordability of her education. She worries about the possibility of not completing her studies due to increasing costs. This concern is compounded by the fact that she has two younger siblings who are also in school, further stretching the family’s limited resources and placing additional pressure on household finances.

Despite these challenges, Tony Rose has consistently sought ways to support herself. She began selling candies to classmates and later expanded to selling snacks such as waffles and mini donuts during school breaks. She has been a go-getter, balancing these efforts with academics, leadership roles, and community involvement. She served as a student government officer, an editor-in-chief of their school publication, and a volunteer in various initiatives while maintaining an honor student standing.

Now preparing to enter an Information Technology program, Tony Rose faces academic demands that require regular access to computers, programming platforms, and digital learning resources. A Coin Grant from Create Foundation would enable her to complete course requirements more efficiently, refine technical skills beyond classroom hours, and build competencies needed in her field.

For Tony Rose, the grant represents stability in continuing her education amid financial uncertainty and an opportunity to turn years of persistence into a future in technology while supporting the long-term goal of improving her family’s circumstances.

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The Computer and Internet (Coin) Grant—a key initiative under our Create ASPIRE program—is designed for students, home-based workers, and community leaders. The Coin Grant provides laptops or desktop computers along with internet subsidies to individuals who are digitally literate but lack the means to purchase.

Learn more about the Coin Grant today. Click here to start.