About Kythe Foundation
Kythe is a non-profit, non-stock organization aimed towards improving the quality of life among hospitalized children with cancer and other chronic illness.
We are a group of trained professionals providing the Child Life Services. As the only foundation in the Philippines offering the Kythe Child Life Services, we have provided psychosocial support to over 20,000 children with cancer and other chronic illness and their families since 1992.
Together with our hospital partners, donors and volunteers, we aim to promote healing and growth.
We aim to inspire hope.
Our Mission and Vision
- We are a pioneering team inspired by hope and a deep concern for children
- We collaborate with partners to address the fears of children by promoting a culture of care, that allows children to learn, play and grow through the Kythe Child Life Services.
Inspire hope.
Create a culture of caring.
Make hospitals a happier place for children
Pag-asa. Pagbabago. Kasiyahan.
Kythe's Milestones Through the Years
The Beginning
In 1992, Icar Castro and Maria Fatima “Girlie” Garcia-Lorenzo were Masters in Psychology students at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines. It was through their coursework that they had their first interactions with pediatric cancer patients.
SEC Registration
Kythe was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit corporation.
Child Life Program
Kythe established its psycho-social activities as the Kythe Child Life Program.
Expansion
The Kythe Child Life Program expanded its services to other departments in East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, Philippines to reach out to all confined pediatric patients.
Developments
Maria Fatima “Girlie” Garcia-Lorenzo completed her Child Life internships in University of California San Francisco Hospital while Allan Cabisaga (Kythe’s first Child Life Coordinator) finished his internships in New Children Hospital (Westmead) and Sydney Children’s Hospital in Australia.
Pioneering
Maria Fatima “Girlie” Garcia-Lorenzo passed the exam and became one of the first certified Child Life Specialists in the Philippines.
Moving Forward
Kythe moved out of East Avenue Medical Center and expanded its partnership with 8 hospitals providing psycho-social services to more pediatric patients across the Philippines.
Expanding to Private Hospitals
Asian Hospital launches the Kythe Child Program. Asian Hospital is the only private hospital in the Philippines which has a hospital-wide Child Life Program and monitored by Kythe Certified Specialists.