Our Timeline.
Ken Danford, co-Founder of North Star and Liberated Learners, visits Manila to help Abot Tala Founder Joei Villarama to set-up the center 
Joei and Ken talked about the vision of Abot Tala on RX 93.1 
Ken Danford meets Board Members, Laksmi Maluya and Tinky Cruz 
Ken Danford officially does the very first family meeting with Kristo, Abot Tala’s very first teen member 
Ken Danford’s talk at Fully Booked in 2018 about Self-Directed Learning 
This is how we chose our logo 
The day Ken Danford left Manila was the day Owie dela Cruz said yes to being the Executive Director 
Snapshots of the very first summer block we had at Commune 
We finally found our physical space in 2019 
Right before the official launch of the center, May 2019 
Board Member Phil Smithsons does a Design Thinking workshop for our teens 
Our very first Halloween party at the center, October 2019 
Abot Tala Junior – Version 1 
We had lots of cooking classes at the center because we had a beautiful kitchen 
Pandemic strikes for 2 years and Abot Tala goes totally virtual 
Towards the end of the pandemic, we’ve embraced the hybrid set-up 
After working purely online for two years, our staff finally met up! 
Once restrictions allowed us, we started having big outdoor meet-ups like this 
Abot Tala Junior – Version 2! 
We can’t wait to spend more in-person time with our teens this 2022!
2017
- Joei Villarama, the founder of Abot Tala, embarked on a three-month road trip in the US with her family. Along the way, they visited alternative schools and self-directed learning centers. Among all the models that Joei saw, it was North Star that most resonated with her because it gave teenagers freedom and control over their lives.
- Joei invited North Star co-founder, Ken Danford, to Manila to help start Abot Tala. You can read about Joei’s research here at the Alliance for Self-Directed Education. Also, read about her visit to North Star and Princeton Learning Cooperative.
2018
- Joei Villarama and Owie dela Cruz met and bonded over their goals and vision for pioneering self-directed, interest-led learning in the Philippines.
- Ken Danford visits Manila to help launch Abot Tala.
2019
- Abot Tala is officially open and the first classes were held at Commune Cafe in Makati.
- The Abot Tala Center is opened in Taguig. Teens could now visit the space where classes and various activities were held.
- Abot Tala Junior, an exclusive program for families with younger kids who are already part of our community, was piloted.
2020
- In March, Abot Tala transitions online as a national lockdown is declared. We are able to reach teens all over Metro Manila and the Philippines.
2021
- The Launchpad program for older teens is developed.
- Abot Tala Junior is re-launched online.
- Abot Tala Radio goes on air.
2022
- The Launchpad program is merged with Abot Tala High.
- Abot Tala Plus is launched.
- After more than two years in lockdown, The Great Big Outdoor Meet-Up happens! Some members of the community meet and hang out in UP Diliman.
- Abot Tala celebrated its third birthday with the community in a face-to-face event at the Saddleback Church parking lot in Nuvali. This is the first time ever that Abot Tala has celebrated its birthday with an IRL party!
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