Governance

Citizenship by Good Example

Established in the 1980s during the turbulent transition from dictatorship to democracy, the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) promotes responsible citizenship and voters’ education by developing educational modules and holding seminars and forums. In 2007, SLB helped launch the VForce Movement, a voters’ advocacy drive for honest and peaceful elections. SLB has also been organizing and deploying volunteers during calamities and national crises. Today, one of its main initiatives is CGE, short for Citizenship by Good Example. CGE aims to involve young people in nation-building by inculcating in them the values of love of country, good citizenship, democracy and volunteerism.

For more information, visit
http://www.slb.ph/beta/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91&Itemid=57

Livelihood

PinoyME Foundation

Short for Filipino Micro-Enterprise, PinoyME seeks to strengthen microfinance institutions (MFIs) by boosting their capital base and technical capabilities and by eventually enabling them to provide their clients with business development services. In 2006, President Cory Aquino convened a private sector consortium of businessmen, bankers, academics and foundation leaders to lend their expertise for this purpose. PinoyME Foundation was subsequently established to provide social investment services to MFIs. The goal is to make MFIs a major force in alleviating poverty by empowering a broad base of clients to sustain and grow their enterprises, particularly in underserved urban and rural areas.

For more information, visit www.pinoyme.com

Education

Tulong Dunong

Inspired by the work of Fr. James O’Brien, SJ, with children in Bicol, Tulong Dunong is a non-government organization that seeks to uplift marginalized sectors by helping equalize access and opportunity in education. Since 1975, it has been offering high school scholarships to less privileged but deserving students and supports their total human development through the Tulong Dunong Foundation in collaboration with its partners. These scholars are envisioned to become active and productive members of society who will contribute to the nation’s development. Tulong Dunong sees itself as the “light of the Lord”, inspiring men and women to serve others.

For more information, visit www.tulongdunong.org

57-75 Movement

A private sector-led movement, 57-75 aims to reverse the deterioration of Philippine education. Its name symbolizes the movement’s intention to boost the average score of public elementary school students in the National Achievement Test from the current “57” to at least “75” through interventions that help improve and strengthen the learning and technical capacities of the schools and its students, with the cooperation of their respective communities. Initially, the movement is focused on: 1. helping public school students stay in school; 2. enhancing reading and learning proficiencies; and 3. improving their achievement rates in English, Math and Science. Read feature

For more information, visit www.57-75.org

Environment

Sagip Pasig Movement

Since 1993, the Sagip Pasig Movement (SPM) has been raising consciousness and campaigning for the rehabilitation of the Pasig River, thereby uplifting the lives of communities around it. Guided by its vision of an environment-friendly society, SPM allies with environmental advocates and other civil society group in mobilizing the citizenry to establish strong community-based organizations that would rehabilitate the Pasig River and other deteriorating river systems. Its pioneering environmental initiatives include the Bantay Ilog Program that encourages nearby communities to organize themselves to protect their river systems by, among others, improving garbage collection, segregation and recycling.

For more information, visit www.philippinerivers.com/sagippasig/

World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (formerly the World Wildlife Fund or WWF) was established in 1961 by a few eminent gentlemen who were concerned over the state of the planet. Today, WWF has more than 1,300 conservation projects in various countries, including the Philippines (where it is also known as Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas). Mostly focusing on local issues, these projects range from school nature gardens in Zambia to advocacy initiatives tied up with commercial merchandise, from the restoration of orangutan habitats to the establishment of giant panda reserves. WWF works through multi-sector partnerships at the global and local levels.

For more information, visit www.wwf.org.ph

Health

Hapag-Asa

Alarmed at the rising incidence of malnutrition, the Archdiocese of Manila’s Pondo ng Pinoy Drive and the Assisi Development Foundation launched the Hapag-Asa Integrated Nutrition Program in 2005. In order to help fight malnutrition and build a healthy nation, Hapag-Asa feeds and nourishes children, 12 years of age and below, to strengthen their physical, mental, emotional, psychological and social development. In the process, Hapag-Asa hopes to improve their school performance, learning abilities and holistic development as future citizens and leaders of the country. Aside from a six-month parish-based feeding program, Hapag-Asa provides nutrition education and livelihood classes for their parents. Read feature

For more information, visit www.hapag-asa.com

Carewell Community Foundation, Inc.

Established in 2005, Carewell is a Philippine non-profit foundation that provides persons with cancer and their loved ones with access to support groups and counseling, medical consultations and referrals, a library and media resource center, talks and workshops, wellness and fun activities, plus the opportunity to join a caring and compassionate network of cancer survivors, caregivers, and service providers. Carewell is a volunteer-driven organization, which offers all its resources, services, and programs free of charge to persons affected by the illness.

For more information, visit www.carewellcommunity.org

H.E.R.O.

Initiated in 2006 by various health organizations and medical professionals with the support of various government agencies, the Health Education Reform Order (H.E.R.O.) advocacy seeks to review, revise and strengthen the health curriculum in public and private schools. Beyond its preventive health education campaign, H.E.R.O. provides free medical and dental checkups and other healthcare services to various public schools and communities, in partnership with community leaders and local government units, throughout the country. H.E.R.O. hopes to make a difference in health and education, the two most important sectors in building an informed, responsive and healthy citizenry for the future.

For more information, visit www.hero.org.ph