Hundreds of chairs, tables, and cabinets have been deployed to Marikina, Sta. Rosa, Isabela—and soon, Zamboanga
Today, education continues to be the cornerstone of every child’s future. But the reality is this: without the right resources and support, even the brightest potential can go unrealized. Unfortunately, many schools across the Philippines, especially in underserved areas, still lack the most basic necessities—functional chairs, tables, cabinets, and other classroom equipment.
For students in these schools, the lack or absence of such essential equipment turns the simple act of learning into an everyday struggle, making it harder for them to thrive and reach their full potential.
Because of this urgent need and commitment in championing education, McDonald’s Philippines in 2023 launched ReClassified—a collaborative private-public initiative that saw the purposeful transformation of furniture and fixtures from the fast-food giant’s renovated stores into much-needed functional school equipment.
By breathing new life into chairs, tables, and other items from over 70 store renovations, using the power of creativity and pursuing committed partnerships, McDonald’s continues to help in the reshaping of the future of Filipino students. For many of these students, getting to sit in a proper chair instead of enduring old, uncomfortable seating—or worse, not having any seating at all— can spell the difference between discomfort and focus, and more so, between distraction and learning.
To date, hundreds of students and their teachers have already benefited from ReClassified. In its launch year alone, the initiative successfully turned over a total of 200 chairs to Marikina’s Leodegario Victoriano Elementary School and San Roque Elementary School, Sta. Rosa Elementary School in Laguna, and Mambaling Elementary School in Cebu. These schools now have better-equipped learning environments thanks to the program, as confirmed by their resident educators.
Not stopping there, ReClassified expanded its reach this 2024 to even more schools, with cabinets and teachers’ tables now added. Among the recipients were four schools in Isabela: Cauayan North Central School, Villa Verde Primary School in Tumauini, Ilagan East SPED Integrated School, and Bagnos Elementary School in Alicia.
ReClassified is now looking at reaching at least five more classrooms in Zamboanga by next year and providing its support beyond the 1500 students who have already benefited from the program. It likewise plans to scale through more partnerships with national and local government agencies, as well as private companies.
At the heart of ReClassified is the drive to demonstrate how innovation, when combined with the right resources, partners, and commitments, can effectively address societal needs.
For instance, the initiative could not have been possible without McDo’s partnership with Junk Not, an organization with a passion for sustainability that specializes in turning waste into purposeful creations. Their work showcased ingenuity, expertise, and craftsmanship—ensuring the quality, safety, and longevity of the school equipment through meticulous processes, so students can use them reliably for many years. With McDo and Junk Not working hand-in-hand, they’ve turned what would have been discarded materials into resources of hope and opportunities for schoolchildren.
McDonald’s, to date, has also expanded its purposeful collaborations with other designers such as industrial and interior design students from the College of St. Benilde in Manila, to develop new designs that will fit the unique needs of different schools—more than just showcasing their craft, these students are also acting upon the opportunity to use their designing skills for good.
McDonald’s Philippines shares, “With every seat and table we provide through ReClassified, we’re not just filling up classrooms with new equipment—we’re helping to build futures. And through our collaborations, like what we have with the interior design students and our partnerships with LGUs, we extend the program’s reach and impact far beyond a limited scale, benefiting and resonating with communities on a deeper level and opening up more opportunities for the beneficiaries. Across these efforts, we demonstrate how even the simplest transformational acts of recycling and repurposing can have a profound and lasting impact, especially when we all work together towards a common goal.”
“In a country where many public schools still lack basic classroom facilities, programs like ReClassified serve as an inspiration—a testament to how businesses can lead and drive social change. As we continue with this project, we’re proud to keep making a difference, one chair, one table, and one school at a time.”
To discover how ReClassified has brought support and joy to both students and teachers, watch this video and see how McDonald’s continues to reimagine what’s possible not just for recycled furniture, but also for the futures of Filipino students, and the society they’ll eventually lead.
