IKEA Philippines donates P1.2M soft toy sales to Better World Smokey Mountain

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IKEA Philippines recently donated over P1.2M to Better World Smokey Mountain (BWSM), a community center managed by San Miguel Foundation, to benefit more than 1,500 families and children in Tondo, Manila.

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Proceeds will help more than 1,500 families and children in Smokey Mountain, Tondo

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The proceeds of the donation drive were from the Swedish home furnishing brand’s Better World, Better Toys campaign wherein P50 from every purchase of any soft toy will be donated to Better World Smokey Mountain. Customers chose from wide variety of irresistible cuddly companions, ranging from the KRAMIG panda bear to aquatic mammals of the BLAVINGAD collection, and space creatures and aliens from the AFTONSPARV collection.

More than 24,000 IKEA soft toys were sold in the duration of the drive from November 13 to December 16, 2023.

“We are extremely grateful for the continuous generosity of IKEA Philippines. From the ideation phase of BWSM to now furthering the cause of our centers, IKEA has been there with us not only in terms of financial support but in other aspects as well,” said Mark Rebucan, Program Associate, San Miguel Foundation

The funds shall be utilized in the implementation of additional extra-curricular activities that will allow members of all ages to hone their creative skills including dance, music, and arts. Additionally, the funds will help procure other materials needed for the establishment of another playground that will cater to babies and toddlers. Income-generating projects for its members such as livelihood programs of nanay leaders will also benefit from the donation.

In September 2023, IKEA Philippines provided and assembled home furnishings for the classrooms and library of Better World Smokey Mountain community center that serves as a learning and skills development center for 2,500 families or roughly 12,500 individuals from the historically underserved communities in Tondo.

Creating partnerships for positive impact in social communities is one of IKEA Philippines’ sustainability commitments. Currently, IKEA is also working with R2R (Rags2Riches) as their sewing service provider in IKEA Pasay City.

Find out more about the IKEA mission of building a better everyday life for the many people. Visit IKEA Pasay City or www.IKEA.ph/FY23SustainabilityReport for more details.

Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier’s impact on uplifting Filipino lives through learning initiatives

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Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier continue its commitment to uplifting Filipino lives through its impactful educational initiatives. With education at the forefront of their advocacy, these initiatives represent a transformative journey toward a brighter and more educated future for the Philippines.

Through its corporate social responsibility arm, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc. (CLFI) leads the charge with its Nationwide Scholarship Program, providing support to intellectually gifted yet financially constrained students. Aside from the annual scholarship grant, the program offers employment opportunities in Cebuana Lhuillier’s parent company, PJ Lhuillier Inc. (PJLI), and provides additional learning resources to its scholars and learning sessions. In collaboration with 14 academic institutions all over the country, close to 1,000 graduate scholars have emerged nationwide. This not only opens doors for the scholars but also creates a ripple effect as they contribute to uplifting others through education.

Another of its initiatives is the Alternative Learning Program, which addresses the needs of out-of-school youth and adult learners across the Philippines. These ALS community learning centers (ALS-CLCs) empower individuals to complete basic education, transforming them into competent and productive members of society. Since it was established in 2013, 155 ALS-CLCs have been built across 70 provinces, reaching almost 60,000 ALS learners.

Jean Henri Lhuillier 

“I have always been a staunch advocate for education. At Cebuana Lhuillier, it is our firm belief that the journey of learning holds the key to transformative change, shaping destinies and creating a profound impact on individuals. Through our initiatives and programs, we strive to improve lives and contribute to the growth of a country built on the foundations of knowledge and empowerment,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

A shining example of success is Atty. Pia Faustino, a Ka-Cebuana who has been with the company for over 20 years now. Faustino was a CLFI scholar during her undergraduate years. Upon completing her degree, she received a job offer as the Administrative Assistant in the Legal Services Group (LSG) of PJLI. It was within this role that she discovered her passion for law, and with the unwavering support of her colleagues and bosses, she decided to pursue further studies.

Embracing the challenge, Faustino embarked on her remarkable journey through law school and in 2023, her dedication and hard work culminated in passing the Bar, earning her esteemed title of a lawyer.

“I’m very grateful to the Lhuillier family and all LSG Group Heads. Everyone has been so supportive, even my colleagues. Just last year, I passed the bar. Law school was not a walk in the park, I had my ups and downs, but I was determined to finish it and to pass the bar. Now, just fresh from passing the bar, I still crave learning and opportunities. I hope and pray to become a good lawyer,” said Faustino.

Faustino's trajectory from scholarship recipient to accomplished lawyer exemplifies the transformative power of educational support and the opportunities for growth that Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier provides.

As Cebuana Lhuillier and Jean Henri Lhuillier continue to spearhead impactful initiatives, the vision for educational empowerment echoes far beyond the programs themselves. It resonates in the lives changed, the communities uplifted, and the promise of a brighter future for the Filipino people.

World Vision launches emergency response to children and families affected by Super Typhoon Karding

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In the aftermath of Super Typhoon Karding (international name Noru), which affected over 640,963 individuals across the Philippines, World Vision mobilizes its responding teams to the landfall sites and the hardest-hit provinces of Aurora and Quezon.

The Super Typhoon Karding has recently affected seven regions in the country, namely Regions 1, 2, 3, and 5, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and CAR.

Among the priority needs identified and expressed by the typhoon-stricken population are food, emergency shelter support, livelihood, and assistance for learning continuity children. A lot of schools in the area have been damaged and rendered not safe for teachers and students to hold classes. The agricultural provinces of Aurora, Quezon including towns Nakar and Burdeos, and other areas in Central Luzon have also experienced massive flooding due to the typhoon, damaging major crops including rice which could been harvested this month of October.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the communities affected by Typhoon Karding. World Vision is committed to support and complement the ongoing efforts of the government and the humanitarian community, especially in ensuring the well-being of children and the most vulnerable. Let us also continue to pray for our responding staff, for wisdom and protection as they engage on-ground,” shares Mr. Rommel V. Fuerte, World Vision National Director in the Philippines.

World Vision’s emergency response in Aurora and Quezon aims to provide for the immediate life-saving needs of more than 2,000 families through provision of emergency shelter and non-food items, including family blankets, mosquito nets and mats. The team also looks into the special needs of children as they cope from the calamity in the area, as well as other affected provinces soon.

For more information and how you can support World Vision’s Emergency Response, please visit https://wvph.co/KARDINGPH or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter.

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About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Shopee, Shopee Xpress partner with Whisper and World Vision to empower young women to #ShareTheConfidence

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Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, recently launched the #ShareTheConfidence campaign in partnership with Whisper and World Vision, to educate Filipinos on the importance of menstrual hygiene management. This initiative is part of Shopee Bayanihan, the company's umbrella CSR arm that seeks to provide support for communities in need through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations.

As part of the campaign, Whisper pledged to match and donate sanitary products for every Whisper product sold on Shopee from May 28 to June 30. Almost 130,000 young women from World Vision’s partner communities all over the Philippines benefitted from the initiative and received sanitary products through the delivery efforts of Shopee Xpress, Shopee’s logistics arm. Apart from raising awareness on proper menstrual hygiene management, the #ShareTheConfidence campaign also aimed to break the stigma around menstrual health and address the issue of period poverty in the Philippines.

Last July 22, Shopee and its partners culminated the #ShareTheConfidence campaign with an on-site event in Laurel, Batangas to turn over Whisper sanitary pads to over 85,000 beneficiaries within the area.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared “Everything we do at Shopee goes back to our main mission of serving the underserved through our technology. We are humbled to partner with Whisper and World Vision to empower Filipinas in need. We look forward to maximizing our platform to deliver even more meaningful initiatives that will benefit communities all over the Philippines.”

With Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee furthers its objective to make e-commerce for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines.

Top Business Leaders in Cebu converge for World Vision’s 2nd virtual CSR Summit

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This March 23, 2021, World Vision is doing a follow-up event to the CSR Summit that will focus on Cebu and will highlight partners from different sectors that contribute to the province’s continued fight against COVID-19, and to other programs and projects that help the poor and vulnerable children and families.

Recently, the World Vision Philippines’ CSR Summit Cebu Media Launch was held via zoom webinar conference with Mr. Rommel Fuerte – World Vision National Director, Mr. Walter Cang - Secretary, Rotary Club of Cebu, Ms. Riella Mae Christa Guioguio - COO, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., Felix Taguiam, President, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Faith Sy, World Vision Program Manager in Cebu, Richard Hendin, World Vision Foundation Member, and Jun Godornes, World Vision Resource Development Director.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, various countries have been striving to find ways on how to deal with this global crisis that continues to affect the world today.

One year after the first declaration of a lockdown in the Philippines, Filipinos remain determined and resilient in their fight against this pandemic, including other social and economic issues caused by it.

It’s remarkable how various sectors are coming together in ensuring that Filipinos are healthy, safe, and protected, most especially the marginalized and vulnerable.

Businesses are coming up with ways to extend assistance to those who are in great need. Companies’ CSR programs aim to improve health facilities, support the frontliners, and provide food and financial assistance to affected communities.

As a follow-up to last year’s successful virtual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit of World Vision in the Philippines, distinguished business leaders from Cebu are coming together to share their experiences and learnings during the pandemic at World Vision’s virtual CSR Summit in Cebu this March 23, 2021 at 2:00 pm, streamed live on World Vision Philippines’ Facebook page.

It was May of last year when Cebu City was recorded as having the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country. But in only six months, data scientists from the University of the Philippines’ OCTA research group and the Department of Health said Cebu City had flattened its curve. The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) applauded both the public and private sectors for helping Visayas fight the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Cebu, Negros Occidental, and the rest of Western Visayas.

Through this CSR Summit, World Vision aims to discuss the significant role and relevance of a company’s CSR during critical times, and to inspire businesses and other organizations in the private sector to develop and implement CSR campaigns to be able to reach and improve more lives.

"World Vision is privileged to once again hold the Corporate Social Responsibility Summit in Cebu. God’s work is truly amazing as we witness how our partner organizations implement their CSR initiatives,” shared World Vision National Director Rommel Fuerte. “Let’s continue working together to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children, their families and communities."

Business industry leaders joining World Vision’s virtual CSR Summit in Cebu are Cebu Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Golden Prince Hotel & Suites, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., Rotary Club of Cebu, and the Singapore School Cebu.

World Vision would like to thank the following event partners—Cebu Chamber of Commerce, Inc., JCI Cebu, JCI Plaridel del Pilar, Public Relations Society of the Philippines, and Rotary Club of Cebu.

To know more about World Vision and its other initiatives, you may visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter.

 

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.