Powering the Possible (Dell)

Affording chances and other life skills

By
Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Total solutions company Dell announced very recently that it will
support the advocacy of Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. (CJFI) in helping close
the learning gap among abandoned and underserved children in Metro Manila and
its six other centers around the archipelago. CJFI will receive funding from
Dell’s ‘Powering the Possible’ grant that will facilitate its aim to empower
misplaced youth through education and computer literacy.

CJFi’s initiatives to support learning empowers the young wards by
closing the technology gap and providing training in information &
communications technology skills – all focused on improving, enhancing and
jumpstarting learning for life. By placing state-of-the-art computer labs into
underserved communities and working with non-profit organizations, Dell’s
action helps marginalized young people discover new possibilities, change their
lives, and unleash their true potential.

Dell’s ‘Powering
the Possible grant’ is focused on four areas of giving that includes children’s
cancer care, disaster relief, social entrepreneurship, and learning. CJFI
belong to the latter category; addressing the concern by targeting the marginal children
and youth, most especially indigent children in their serviced community who
have the interest to learn computer, as well as other life skills.

A
better tomorrow

In the Philippine setting, public school
students, especially those in the elementary and secondary levels, have less
access to computer literacy. So you can just imagine how grim the chances are
of those who are unschooled, particularly the out-of-school youth, because of tight
resources. They are the neediest in the area of learning. In its own way, this
program helps address the ever-widening gap of access to learning. The children
at CJFI are being taught by volunteers in classroom settings at the center in
Proj. 8, Quezon City. CJFI has been
working
with depressed communities when it was established over a decade ago as this is
the vision of its founders. This program is a vital instrument for the
organization to be able to help the children and youth under its care to
realize their dreams, and eventually enable their latent capabilities. The Proj.
8 center that we visited has 17 wards under its care.

The rapid growth of the information and
computer technology has opened the minds and interest of many children and
youth to get a profession in ICT. For the last three years, state universities
and colleges in the Philippines have an increasing average of students who
graduated in IT related courses or discipline. According to the DepEd data, 69%
of the public schools in the Philippines have at least one computer unit. The
rest of the public schools have no computer set thus
depriving many school children of the opportunity to learn or at least
familiarize themselves with the basic operations of a computer. Dell’s support
on CJF’s program, in effect, affords better chances to these kids than those enrolled
in public schools.

Grants such as this will
greatly help CJFI sustain its efforts and continue to monitor the welfare of
the children and the impact of the program on their development.

"Our grants to
children’s centers like CJFI mark an important milestone in our CSR efforts. It
is special because of the strategic focus of these projects; most specially the
Computer Literacy Program. Building these computer laboratories affirm the best
use of Dell technology.

“Even our employees
donate their free time to teach the children technical and IT skills. We
approach the program in a more structured way now, unlike in the past. For
every 10 hours of volunteered time in every quarter, each employee receives
$150 that they donate to any of Dell’s charitable causes,” remarked Richard Teo, president of Dell Int’l Services
- Philippines.

Home away from
home

Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc. was
established in 1998, the year of the Philippine Centennial, when a group of
good-hearted individuals from Davao City saw the miserable plight of poor
Filipino children particularly children along the streets, and they felt a
burden in their hearts to help and protect these innocent and needy children by
subsidized means. They wanted that these children improve their lives and
experience happiness and contentment in their hearts. They envisioned that
these children would have joy, peace, protection, and become productive
citizens in the country when they grow up.

From one residential
center for children established in 1998, Children’s Joy has expanded to seven
(7) children’s residential centers across the country serving and catering to
the poor and needy. Aside from Davao City, the other CJFI centers are located
in Butuan, Cebu, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna and Quezon City. Children’s Joy feed
the children, clothe them, teach them the good values, and send them to public schools
within the area.

“We are very lucky that Dell turned its eyes on the children of our
foundation; whose experiences would have been otherwise very limited. Dell
computers are in all our computer laboratories nationwide. Our wards have all been
screened by the DSWD before moving here from their respective families. The
children are aged from 6 to 17 years old,” intimated CJFI executive director
Rosemarie Dimagnaong

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:
DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that
give them the power to do more. ‘Powering the Possible’ is Dell’s commitment to
put technology and expertise to work where it can do the most good for people
and the planet. Dell works with nonprofit organizations to address pressing
social issues by donating a combination of Dell technologies and solutions,
funding, expertise and volunteer support. In 2012, Dell team members
volunteered more than 700,000 hours in their communities and contributed an
estimated $32 million through employee match and rewards programs. To learn
more about Dell’s initiatives, simply visit their Web site, www.dell.com/communities. 

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Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI)

Of
corporate value and outreach programs

By
Nico Erle Ciriaco

Since
1982, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) has been managing and implementing
Shell’s social development programs in the country. It is a pioneer in pursuing
best practice projects that respond to the needs of Shell worksites and host
communities. Pilipinas Shell, through its refinery, transforms, transports, and
sells what its upstream counterpart Malampaya (an exploration initiative with
PNOC and Chevron) finds underneath the seabed.

Its
BPO offices, which started with 50 in 2004 and rising to 3,000 at present, help
in facilitating the exchanges from the various channels. To date, Shell
operates 22 depots and 22,000 gas stores nationwide.

Cottage
industries

The
quaint town of Aborlan is where the SAKA (Sanayan sa Kakayahang Agrikultura)
farm is located. The model farm house is surrounded with cash crops, orchards,
and a fish pond. SAKA is a one-year scholarship program for rural and
out-of-school youth leading to a certificate in Agricultural Entrepreneurship
at the Western Philippines University.

The
program empowers the unschooled youth in agricultural technologies and
entrepreneurial skills designed to improve farm productivity and management,
thereby increasing the family income while honing their leadership skills and
aptitudes that will contribute to community development. Scholars are provided
with a start-up fund for their income-generating projects.

“This
project started in 1999 with the Tao’t Bato indigenous people from Rizal town.
Now, we have five tribal centers monitoring the project. We impart assessment
of the program after graduation,” informed Elsa Manarpaac, president of Western
Philippines University.

Integrated
Farming Bio-Systems (IFBS), on the other hand, is a one-week capacity building
program for training farmers on appropriate technologies; focusing on organic
farming, soil analysis, and water conservation techniques. It is basically
teaching the farmers on maximizing use of resources through an environment
friendly, market-driven, and financially-rewarding practices.

“It’s
not just about technical skills but enhancement and attitude development. We
strive to free farmers from his ‘law of the jungle’ mentality. So they
understand that the labor force is made up of people who are all part of a
team. This is what sets us apart from other initiatives,” enthused PSFI president Edgar Chua.

Outbreak
control

Kilusan
Ligtas Malaria (KLM) is a malaria-control program in Palawan that was
replicated in four other provinces since 2006. Tagged as ‘Movement Against
Malaria’ (MAM), it was expanded further to 35 other provinces around the
archipelago in 2010. In Palawan alone, there was a 92 per cent and 97 per cent
decrease in malaria cases and deaths, respectively, as of year-end 2012.

The
Malaria Awareness Day (MAD) is an assortment of malaria-preventive activities
conducted within a full-day in a specific village. Last July, mediamen as well
as PSFI volunteers met with the Batak tribes-folk, comprised of 37 families,
for the yearly LGU initiative on awareness and preventive measures to combat
malaria.

MAD
aimed to promote awareness of the fatal disease and usually starts with a short
program. The fun-filled games that ensue are geared towards preventive
measures. Lectures on the disease are also conducted to children and parents,
especially mothers. The distribution and re-treatment of mosquito nets and
blood-smearing for malaria parasites are conducted simultaneously with the
other activities.

The
site in Sitio Tagnaya, Brgy. Concepcion (one of Puerto Princesa’s far-flung
communities) is accessible through 4-wheel drive vehicles, passing by five
tributaries. There are 37 indigenous families in the community but other
indigenous groups from nearby settlements also participate. Before, the Batak
indigenous group was on the Top 5 list as most of the outbreak cases originated
from therein. But last year, they were no longer in the Top 5 watchlist.

Corollary
to the KLM and MAM campaign is the SINAG (Save, Invest, And Nurture Access to
Gleam) project, an access to energy program for remote areas and island
communities. It recognizes the needs of the people to light their homes for
ease of movement and study time for children as well as spur growth of
home-based enterprises. The donation of solar-powered lamps is one of the components
of this project.

“There
are still factors that need time to change due to culture and traditions. A lot
of things still need to be in place in the execution of the health mandate. And
we are getting there. Empowering ordinary people like Deborah Aroz to function
like a professional medical technologist to work in their respective
communities is no mean feat. Even the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in
Atlanta, Georgia asked for our project blueprint for their projects in Africa. After
MAM, the HIV/AIDS concern is the next project PSFI is eyeing,” apprised program
manager Marvi Trudeau.

The
local hospital recognizes Shell’s initiative on health services, the Impok Pang
Kalusugan (IPK), a community-based micro-insurance program that provides hospitalization
to its members. Families simply pay a P360 annual fee (or P1/day) for a
two-time hospitalization amounting to P2500, an amount they can first exhaust
before using their PhilHealth benefits.

Marine
sanctuary

The
project “Sustaining Conservation Gains in the Tubbataha Reefs National Park
(TRNP)” supports the information, education and communication activities of the
famous dive site that’s directed towards children, the Filipino youth, local
fisherfolk in Puerto Princesa and Cagayancillo as well as other nearby island
municipalities. The project’s objective is to provide information on the value
of the TRNP and the TRNP Act to increase compliance and better appreciation
towards conservation. To date, the Tubbathaha Reef remains to be at the top of must-visit
dive spots in the Philippines.

As
Shell move towards its centennial, the global company continues to help
governments in nation-building as well as in providing power sources to
communities in the countries where they operate, in a more sustainable manner.
Shell is focused on diversifying the energy mix in the country by delivering
cleaner-burning natural gas and smarter products for clean and fuel efficient
transport, and in producing smarter infrastructure while limiting CO2 emissions
and encouraging customers to do the same. The company aims to address social
concerns and work to benefit local communities, whilst protecting its
reputation while doing business.

In
all its operations, Shell and PSFI work with partners, communities, and
governments to help meet rising demand in a more sustainable manner;

sharpening its focus
on environmental management in projects and operations as well as in providing
support to programs relating to educating the youth, increasing agricultural
productivity, skills training and development, promoting road safety by
increasing awareness, and improving health care systems, among others.

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Dell's 'Powering the Possible' Program

Earmarking more support to empower street children

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Dell  announced recently  its additional support  to the advocacy of Childhope Asia Philippines, Inc. (CHAP) in helping close the learning gap among underserved children. CHAP  received an additional P19K from Dell’s Powering the Possible grant during the company’s blocked screening of the movie “Wolverine” at Greenbelt 1 cinema in Ayala Center Makati. Said additional funding will help facilitate CHAP’s aim to empower  over 600 misplaced streetchildren through education and computer literacy.

“Our initiatives to empower youth by closing the technology gap and providing training in information and communications technology skills are focused on improving, enhancing and jump-starting learning for life. By putting technology to work for underserved communities, we aim to help young people discover new possibilities, change their lives, and unleash their true potential,” declared Richard Teo, president of Dell Int’l Services – Philippines

“We are very pleased to be able to extend funding support for Child Hope Asia’s street children outreach program. Child Hope Asia has been a strategic partner of Dell under the Powering The Possible program. Last year, Dell worked with Child Hope Asia to provide a computer lab with state-of-the-art technology as well as equipping mobile vans with mobile laptops so that the street children of Manila can have access to these learning tools. Our employees have been active in providing skills training in computers as well as other creative skills like singing & dancing and the arts. The additional funding support is intended to enable further outreach so that the deployed technology can be fully utilized by these misplaced youth,” Teo intoned.

CHAP works with the underprivileged street children and out-of-school youth in Metro Manila to give them equal opportunities for learning through several programs, including basic literacy and numeracy, alternative learning system basic education, computer literacy, as well as life skills, values and primary health education. To facilitate its outreach and protection/education program, the charity is aided by mobile education vans with street educators that are deployed to 18 locations daily where street children are commonly found—in parks or on the sidewalks of urban centers around Metro Manila—to teach children there.

The core of this partnership is to provide the underserved youth and educators with access to technology and serve as a catalyst for lifelong learning and career readiness. Dell technology is used to equip the mobile education vans with laptops and the required education software to accomplish the work of accredited programs administered by CHAP, benefiting an estimated 500 misplaced children.

"The Childhope Board of Directors, staff, and the many street children we assist, are truly and deeply grateful for the commitment and substantial financial support given by Dell to our street children's education; which will have a life-long impact on their development and well-being as well.as towards being useful contributors to society as a whole. May Dell continue in all its outreach endeavors," intimated Teresita Silva, president & managing director of Chilhope Asia Inc.

In addition, the grant will greatly help in the maintenance of the set-up computer lab with Dell desktops that has started providing digital learning and basic computer literacy classes to 120 selected street children brought to the charity’s premises and to the areas in Metro Manila where CHAP operates.

“We are grateful for Dell’s support in our efforts to defend the rights of street children by providing them with learning opportunities and knowledge that can help protect them from the vulnerabilities of life on the street. The education and skills they acquire will also go a long way in preparing them for a future as productive members of the community” Silva continued.

The computers at the center were also installed with a database program that has been used by the 25 street educators for recording and tracking the progress of the street children under the program. This will greatly help in monitoring the welfare of the children and in evaluating the impact of the program to the beneficiaries.

Providing the world’s youth with access to technology is something that is close to  Dell’s corporate value. The company’s ‘Powering the Possible’ program is designed to change the way youth learn and access information today. Dell’s partnership with Childhope Asia is in giving the latter the power to provide the technology, the know-how and the resources in helping the next generation grow and thrive in their communities.“This is the first time that different groups of people – from our sales as well as BPO offices – are together in one place. Our customers are also now part of our outreach endeavors. Technology is now accessible to the underprivileged and in the hands of streetchildren. A number of Dell employees share their time too in teaching computer literacy to the kids,” Teo said at the close of the short program prior to the movie screening.

Since 1989, Childhope Asia Philippines has been at the forefront of advocating the cause of street children in the Philippines and in Asia. It reaches out to about 1,200 street children every year and works to uplift street children from the hazards of working and living on the streets and aims to realize a better future for them by providing learning opportunities outside the confines of a formal school set-up. Visit www.childhope.org.ph to learn more about the organization.

Dell’s ‘Powering the Possible’ program focuses on four areas of giving that includes learning, children’s cancer care, disaster relief and social entrepreneurship.  The ‘Powering the Possible’ project is designed to give others the power to do more through a combination of Dell technology & solutions, resources, as well as know-how. This initiative in support of  learning, empowers the youth by closing the technology gap through provisions in training, in information & communications technology skills – all focused on improving, enhancing and jump-starting learning for life.

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. Powering the Possible is Dell’s commitment to put technology and expertise to work where it can do the most good for people and the planet. Dell works with nonprofits to address pressing social issues by donating a combination of Dell technologies and solutions, funding, expertise and volunteer support. In 2011, Dell gave more than $44 million, and Dell team members volunteered more than 418,000 hours in their communities. Learn more at www.dell.com/communities. 

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