ICTSI Foundation launches three projects in Manila

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Photo shows Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim (second from left), Manila Councilor Niño Dela Cruz (far left), and Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Foundation treasurer, awarding a scholarship to a day care worker in Parola during launching rites of the Foundation’s programs in Manila.
Photo shows Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim (second from left), Manila Councilor Niño Dela Cruz (far left), and Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Foundation treasurer, awarding a scholarship to a day care worker in Parola during launching rites of the Foundation’s programs in Manila.

ICTSI Foundation, Inc, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI), recently launched three youth advocacy programs aimed at improving the quality of life, health and education of children in Parola and Isla Putting Bato in Tondo district, Manila, immediate communities of ICTSI’s flagship, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

The programs launched were Project AIDE (Assistance to Improve Day Care Education), a program enhancing the level of efficiency and quality of childcare in 10 day care centers in the area; and the second year of two continuing programs: Lusog Dunong, a supplemental feeding program for children cum capability-building program for mothers; and Reading Ready, a reading proficiency program for school children.

City of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim led the launching ceremonies at the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo together with officials from the city government, ICTSI, the ICTSI Foundation, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), an umbrella organization of the country’s corporate foundations. Program beneficiaries attended the event, which included children, parents, teachers, social workers and community leaders.

During the launch, Mayor Lim underscored the importance of extending help to those in need: “I am glad that we have corporate foundations like the ICTSI Foundation who are seriously helping those who have less in society.”

He also emphasized the need for program beneficiaries to take advantage of private sector assistance by fully availing of the programs especially the parents.

“Parents must take good care of their children if they want them to succeed in life. The key to success is having a stable foundation in education and health during the child’s formative years, and we are thankful to ICTSI for prioritizing the youth in their advocacy.”

Lusog Dunong, the Foundation’s flagship program, seeks to improve a child’s learning abilities and school performance through proper nourishment. Aside from drawing up a supplemental feeding program for 2,000 children, mothers undergo capability building seminars and workshops on responsible parenting, childcare, nutrition, finance/microfinance literacy, and various home-based enterprises.

Project AIDE covers improvement of day care facilities, professional development of daycare workers and the provision of educational materials. In July, the Foundation completed the rehabilitation and refurbishment of eight day care centers in Parola and two day care centers in Isla PutingBato. The Foundation also granted scholarships to 10 day care workers for a two-year certificate course on early childhood education in Miriam College. Some 1,200 children will benefit from the program.

Meanwhile, the Reading Ready program aims to improve a child’s reading proficiency and comprehension through systemic interventions. Aside from equipping teachers with the right teaching tools, the program engages parents and community leaders to be active and more accountable for the child’s education. Education summits are held wherein teachers, parents and community leaders discuss how to better improve the quality of education at the community level. To complement the program, reading corners/mini libraries were installed inside the classrooms of the beneficiary schools. The Foundation partnered with Synergeia, a foundation whose thrust is to improve the quality of basic education, in the rollout of Reading Ready. Some 5,000 students will benefit from the program.

All three programs are implemented in close coordination with the city government through the Manila Department of Social Welfare and Development and school officials of the Rosauro Almario Elementary School, which has satellite schools in Parola and Isla Putting Bato. PBSP, on the other hand, assists the Foundation in the overall monitoring of the programs.

Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI vice president and Foundation treasurer, thanked the different implementing partners of the Foundation: “We hope that our partnerships with both the local government and other NGOs would continue so that we could come up with appropriate pro-poor projects within the extent of our resources. We will contribute to government’s social development efforts whenever we can.”

Aside from Mayor Lim and Mr. Gonzalez, City of Manila Councilor Niño Dela Cruz, Narlene Soriano, Foundation executive director, Rafael Lopa, PBSP executive director, and Filipina Laurena, Foundation deputy executive director, were present during the launch.