Looking for Juan is an online store of art-based books and gifts that aims to improve literacy in the Philippines by merging art and purpose with every purchase. Each purchase is matched with book donations to disadvantaged children, making it easy for individuals and companies to give meaningful gifts while contributing to the future of the next generation.
Raising a Generation of Readers
Looking for Juan was born from the need to address functional literacy, one of the root causes of economic and societal problems in the country. According to the National Statistics Authority, around 4 million Filipinos cannot read, and of those who can, 11 million do not understand what they are reading.
A love of books leads to a brighter future: Young learners read the book Message in the Sand written by Charmaine Aserappa and illustrated by Roel Obemio
“The thing is, readers can learn independently whether they are in school or not. It is a lifelong skill that ensures better life and a brighter future. And it all begins not simply by learning to read, but by learning to love books,” shares Larissa Chavez, chief executive officer of Looking for Juan.
To address this problem, the women-led team created Looking for Juan, which will serve as a home to socially relevant children’s books and art gifts created in collaboration with Filipino creatives.
Shopping with a purpose: www.lookingforjuan.com enables customers to shop socially relevant books and art gifts while donating books to children
Art and Purpose with Every Purchase
Philippine art has always been at the core of our product development. From concept to completion, we collaborate with some of the best visual artists in the country to create meaningful books and gifts.
Philippine art at our heart: Every product is made in collaboration with Filipino artists, making art more accessible through meaningful books and gifts
Our process starts with an art show, where proceeds of the artworks are used to fund the initial production of children’s books, which discuss critical social problems such as climate change, data privacy and fake news, children’s rights, and human rights. The images of the artworks are then used as illustrations for children’s books, functional products, and corporate gifts.
Books and functional products are made available for purchase at our website, while custom corporate gifts can be specially created to combine the company’s brand message while celebrating Filipino artistry in unique ways. To date, we have partnered with 21 national and international companies, creating artful corporate gifts that give back.
Whether it’s a planner, a book set, custom gifts, or gift cards, Looking for Juan’s gifts provide everyone a double-dose of positivity: the feeling of receiving a gift and the feeling of giving back
Gifts that Look Out for Juan
Our Buy One, Donate Books to Juan program enables customers and companies to participate in our advocacy by simply purchasing from or partnering with us.
Through the program, every retail and corporate sale is matched with book donations to children living in disadvantaged communities who do not have the resources and access to quality Filipino books.
Our book donations are coursed through CANVAS’ One Million Books for One Million Filipino Children Campaign or book giving events initiated by us or our corporate partners in their chosen communities.
Since 2020, Looking for Juan has donated thousands of books to communities and public schools around the Philippines—from Cordillera, Palawan, to Zamboanga.
A book for every child: Grade 6 students from East Central School in Palawan hold copies of the activity book I Am the Change in Climate Change during a bookgiving event in the province
Sharing this Dream through Gift Giving
Doing good business also means doing good for others. From artists to products to customers to children—we enable Filipinos and organizations to be our mission partners in raising a generation of young readers.
“There is nothing today that provides as much benefit as a partnership between an impactful start-up, creatives, companies, and consumers,” Larissa shares.
More than just a gift: Every gift from Looking for Juan is a show of support not only to children, but to small local businesses and Filipino creatives
Through partnerships with Looking for Juan, the gesture of gift-giving can have more value and social impact. Every gift means supporting a women-led small business, a nonprofit, artists, and most importantly, Filipino children.
“There’s a sea of change occurring in partnerships working for the future of the next generation. This is Looking for Juan, and this is where we hope to go,” Larissa adds.
Are you interested in sharing this dream with us? Contact us at store@lookingforjuan.com or fill out our Corporate Gifts Inquiry Form to learn more about our corporate gifting program. Together, let’s raise a generation that reads!