AIA Healthiest Schools program reaches more than 7,200 Filipino youth

The leading life insurer’s health literacy initiative has spanned eight schools across five regions in the country

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Just after three months since its launch, AIA Philippines, formerly Philam Life and one of the country’s largest life insurance companies, has continued expanding its AIA Healthiest Schools program, a pioneering initiative aimed at boosting health literacy among young Filipinos. 

Following successful launches in countries such as Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, AIA Healthiest schools was introduced locally in August 2024. Since then, the program has reached over 7,200 students and more than 139 school personnel across eight schools in five regions — Western Visayas, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), National Capital Region, Bicol, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). The program equips students aged 5 to 16 with the knowledge, skills, and tools to make healthier choices and establish a foundation for lifelong well-being.

Through AIA Healthiest Schools, participating students and educators gain access to free curriculum-linked resources built on four pillars of well-being: healthy eating, physical activity, mental health, and sustainability. With its implementation partner Corazon S. Atayde Memorial Foundation (CSAMF), AIA Philippines piloted the program in schools such as Happy Hollow Elementary School and Happy Hollow National High School in Baguio; San Diego Elementary School and Commonwealth High School in Quezon City; San Juan Central School in Laguna; Lictin Integrated School in Catanduanes; Comagaycay Elementary School in Camarines Sur; and Polopiña National High School in Iloilo — serving grassroots communities to ensure that the program supports underserved populations effectively.

“The AIA Healthiest Schools program brings to life AIA’s purpose to help people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives,” said Melissa Henson, AIA Philippines’ Chief Marketing Officer. “We aim to create long-term positive impact on students’ health by providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed and healthy decisions. This aligns with AIA’s global goal of improving health literacy and community well-being, especially among young people.”

The program includes a robust Training of Trainers (TOT) component among select teachers to effectively integrate AIA Healthiest Schools’ modules and activities into their lesson plans. The curriculum-linked resources include engaging films, presentations, worksheets, and bite-sized activities, making learning about health fun and impactful. 

Learners can apply their newfound knowledge through the AIA Healthiest Schools Competition, where students are encouraged to develop and implement health projects based on the program’s four pillars, showcasing their initiatives with real-life application. Winning students will represent their schools and will advance to a regional competition in July 2025. This competition offers students a platform to bring their learning to life and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

“We are happy to partner with AIA Philippines, because we believe that we can maximize the potential of this program to make a lasting difference in students’ lives, by helping them build habits that promote overall health and well-being,” added Margaux Atayde, Executive Director, CSAMF. 

After the successful pilot, AIA Philippines and CSAMF will expand the program in 2025 to more partner elementary and secondary schools nationwide. AIA Healthiest Schools offers access to free educational materials backed by HARK LONDON, a leading education and youth consultancy that helps organizations make a real impact on young lives around the world. These materials are also localized by Filipino experts. 

Together with its partners, AIA is creating an ecosystem that empowers students and communities to take charge of their health. Active in eight markets across Asia and Australia, AIA Healthiest Schools is a key component of AIA’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, transforming communities and contributing to building a healthier future for the youth.