Samsung DigitAll Hope focuses on disadvantaged youth, disabled

Samsung Electronics Philip-pines Corp. (SEPCO) is calling on non-government organizations, civic groups and other cause-oriented organizations to send in applications for Samsung DigitAll Hope, the company’s largest regional social program that provides funding for the best technology projects that empower the youth and the disabled.

The umbrella theme for 2005 is "Imagine a brighter tomorrow today." The Philippine contest focuses on assistance programs for disadvantaged youth and people living with disabilities and provide solutions on how they can lead richer lives through existing and new development technologies.

Last year’s grant awardee, the Altiora Quaero Foundation and the Salesians of St. John Bosco Philippines North Province received a total of P4 million for the program Just Farm IT! and e-Learning for Out-of-School Youth, respectively.

One of the winning projects benefited economically disad-vantaged youth from rural farming families by training them to become technology-savvy agri-entrepreneurs and remain gainfully employed in their family farms.

"A brighter tomorrow is within reach for Filipinos who embrace the benefits that technology can bring to their lives," says SEPCO president and chief executive officer Hyuck Jae Shim.

"Samsung DigitAll Hope builds on our company’s belief in the power of technology to improve the plight of individuals and society as a whole. DigitAll Hope realizes our goal of giving back to the commu-nities within which we operate in a meaningful way. We are proud to say that the program has spread its wings well, and we are certain we can extend its benefits exponentially with our long-term commitment," Hyuck added.

As part of the grant selection process, SEPCO has partnered with the National Youth Commission to help identify organizations that can benefit from the funding.

Aimed at enriching lives with technology, Samsung DigitAll Hope extends across seven Asian countries – Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singa-pore, Thailand and Vietnam.

With an additional $500,000 commitment from Samsung, the program reaches new heights with a total of $1.65 million since 2003 to help community organizations in Southeast Asia and Australia bridge the digital divide.

The closing date for submissions is Sept. 15. For more information, visit http://www.samsung.com.ph.

Applications are available on the website. Potential applicants are invited to submit applications to Angie L. Limbaco, ground floor, Bonaventure Plaza, Ortigas Avenue, San Juan, Metro Manila.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is a global leader in semicon-ductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital conver-gence technologies with 2004 parent company sales of $55.2 billion and net income of $10.3 billion.

Employing approximately 113,000 people in over 90 offices in 48 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semicon-ductor Business and Telecommu-nication Network Business.