"In the pursuit of a brighter and more inclusive future, working hand in hand, not just for vulnerable children, but alongside them, will shape a world where every youth's potential is nurtured and fulfilled." - NordCham Sustainability Committee Meeting
The Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines hosted its monthly Sustainability Committee Meeting with the topic of Non-Governmental Organizations Collaboration for Vulnerable Children. It was held on the 26th of July 2023 at AstraZeneca Office, Inoza Tower, BGC.
Representatives of various companies and organizations attended the event, namely, AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical, Best Buddies Philippines, Expeditionist Studio, France Philippines United Action, German Club Manila, ICT Events Manila, Impactville, KeystonePartners, Odfjell Technology, Optum, Q2 HR Solutions, SEARCA, and Youth Inclusion Network.
Esteemed speakers were Ms. Laura Baptiste, Partnership & Fundraising – Global Operations at Life Project 4 Youth, Ms. Dina Osabel, International Freight Forwarding Operator at Bollore Logistics, and Mr. Admore Alzate, Head of Corporate Relations at SOS Children's Villages Philippines.
Ms. Laura started the presentation by sharing the challenges faced by youth entering the job market and advocating for their inclusion and empowerment. She shed light on the concept of exclusion and its effect on society, particularly on the youth. Figures were presented from UN Habitat, showing that 37% of the 59 million inhabitants in Manila live in shanty towns, leading to exclusion from active societal participation. She also shared personal stories of young individuals emphasized the real-life consequences of exclusion, underscoring the urgent need for solutions to address these issues.
Along with Ms. Laura, Ms. Dina shared her inspiring journey from facing adversities to finding hope through the organization LP4Y. She spoke about her struggles as a young woman with a challenging background but found a safe place in LP4Y, which offered training and support to help her grow both professionally and personally. Ms. Dina's determination led her to secure a job at Bollore Logistics, proving that despite lacking a formal diploma, youth like her possess immense potential and determination.
Hereafter, Ms. Laura shared several key insights and solutions to bridge the gap and empower the excluded youth:
Recognizing Essential Skills: The corporate survey by LP4Y revealed that essential skills for employment included a growth mindset, willingness to learn, communication skills, smartness, behavioral skills, and a positive attitude.
Involvement of Companies: Participants were encouraged to involve their companies in supporting youth development through training, internships, mentoring, and inclusive CSR programs. Collaborating with experts and other organizations in CSR initiatives was emphasized.
Role Modeling and Mentorship: The importance of role models and mentors for youth. Participants were urged to open doors to their companies, offer internships, and provide guidance to help youth navigate their career paths.
Networking for Success: Utilizing collision networks, such as Vision Network, to share successful practices, experiences, and challenges faced in implementing CSR policies. Connecting with like-minded organizations and learning from each other can lead to greater impact.
Involvement of Top Management: Top management was encouraged to be actively involved in CSR strategies to drive meaningful change and empower the youth.
She concluded her presentation by urging attendees to trust and invest in the potential of the youth, allocate resources for their empowerment, and foster collaboration among organizations, experts, and businesses. She also encouraged participants to take immediate action in building an inclusive path toward youth empowerment and development.
Mr. Admore followed the presentation by sharing SOS Children's Villages' remarkable journey which began in the aftermath of World War II, when abandoned children and left-behind wives needed care and support. After 74 years, the villages operate in 138 countries, providing care and protection to orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children. The program was introduced in the Philippines, and it has expanded to eight program locations, aiding nearly 6000 vulnerable children and more than 1500 disadvantaged families in Manila, Bataan, Lipa, Calbayog, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cebu, and Davao.
He shared their 3 pillars of action: prevention, protection, and advocacy.
Prevention: Under the Family Strengthening Program (FSP), SOS intervenes to prevent family separation due to poverty and other factors, providing livelihood support, educational assistance, skills training, parenting sessions, and emergency response.
Protection: The Family-Like Care (FLC) Program ensures that children who cannot stay with their families are provided with a supportive and nurturing environment. SOS focuses on individual care and support, aiming to keep biological siblings together whenever possible. As the children grow, they are prepared for independent living through supervised independent living, boarding houses, and youth houses, empowering them to become self-reliant adults. Education plays a vital role in children's development, with impressive literacy rates and academic performance recorded for both Family-Like Care and Family Strengthening Program participants.
Advocacy: SOS strives to change policies and practices to improve the situation of children without parental care or at risk of losing it. SOS actively collaborates with partners who share their vision and align with the UN SDGs, particularly those related to poverty eradication, quality education, decent work, and economic growth, reduced inequalities, and peace and justice.
Mr. Admore concluded his presentation by emphasizing the importance of investing in the future of vulnerable children and highlighted the social return on investment when they become self-reliant adults and break the cycle of abandonment and neglect. Through their unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing and supportive environment for children in need, they are bridging the gap and empowering them to lead fulfilling lives.
After the event, attendees participated in a facilitated brainstorming session, resulting in these key takeaways:
Focus on self-development and employment through an event.
Encourage self-initiative to share and spread knowledge.
Create partnerships for education programs targeting at-risk or vulnerable youth.
Provide needs-based services and ensure access to safe facilities.
Include testimonies and inspirational speeches from experts with similar backgrounds in youth events.
Establish both local community-based and international partnerships.
Offer basic professional exposure through company visits, speeches, and office/factory tours.
Offer incentives for family planning/training.
Convene stakeholders to collaborate on a roadmap, assigning roles to each player.
The NordCham Sustainability Committee aims for more collaboration across industries and learning opportunities from experts in the field of sustainability. Since April 2022, the Sustainability Committee has hosted 14 meetings on varying sustainability topics with resource speakers and sharing of best practices, networking opportunities and partnerships, and collaboration with government units.
The next meeting will be on 30 August 2023 from 4:30 - 6:30 PM at the BPI Office (TBC). We have invited Mr. Jose Teodoro "TG" Limcaoco, President and CEO of BPI, to present the bank's sustainability approach and pillars of responsible banking and responsible operation. We only have limited slots available, make sure to register now via this link.