The NDEA Scholarship Program started in 1980 but it was the graduates of School Year 1991-1992 that responded to the encouragement of the NDEA Officers for the graduates to do something for their own people. A series of meetings took place and the graduates finally decided to put up a foundation which will complement the NDEA Scholarship program or will continue it in case of phase-out. Alia Arump
ac-Masbud, Engr. Nasrodin Lamponi and Teddy Inta. They were supported by the pioneers of the program namely: Abdullah Sumael, Dinga tulon, Guiria Sedik and Naila Salik. The NMSFMI got its legal personality from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 27, 1996. It was on May 25, 2011 that the new name for SEED Foundation, Inc. was approved and given a certification from SEC. More and more graduates got involved in the endowment fund building. The bulk of the funds were contributed and generated by the NDEA-Misereor scholars from SY 1992-1993 up to the present. Aside from the membership fees and annual fees, raffle tickets were sold twice a year. Income generating activities were also launches to augment the funds. Originally, the foundation considered the following as its major thrusts: endowment fund building; scholarship grants for deserving students, capability building for community associations to enable them to implement sustainable development projects; and linkage with government and non-governmental organizations. Today the Foundation is able to provide additional services such as enabling the parents to send their children to school through the Study Now Pay Gradually Scheme. It is also able to assist the members in building up their own funds through savings and working capital loans under the Pag-Asa Multi-Purpose Cooperative which was organized by the foundation. Short-term Skills Training for Out-Of-School Youth is also a priority.
