Aboitiz launches Adopt-A-School Program 2009

CEBU, Philippines – Inspired to build a brighter future for today’s youth, the Aboitiz Group takes its advocacy for a better quality of public education to a higher level through its Adopt-A-School Program.

This involves the implementation of eight projects initiated by Aboitiz employees that aim to benefit students and teachers of beneficiary schools, as well as the students’ parents. The program supplements the Group’s infrastructure and equipment donations to public schools.

Beneficiaries of the program’s pilot run are the Banilad Elementary School and Banilad Night High School.

The projects approved for implementation for school year 2009-2010 are the following: SciMathics Club in Action (a science and mathematics enrichment program); Project BART (helping teenagers to become responsible); Project LEAD (a leadership skills and organization management training program); Book Donation for Education, Learning about Learning (a workshop series for teachers); Youth Public Speaking and Presentation Skills Training Program, A Future for our Teachers (a cooperative livelihood program), and Livelihood Skills Development Program.                                   To kick off the implementation of its Adopt-A-School Program, Aboitiz held a launching and MOA signing event yesterday at the Barangay Banilad Gym. Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) Chairman & Aboitiz Foundation President Jon Ramon Aboitiz, AEV Chief Human Resource Officer Txabi Aboitiz, and Aboitiz Foundation EVP & Managing Trustee Sonny Carpio graced the event. Also present were Barangay Banilad officials, Department of Education representatives, and the faculty of the two beneficiary schools.

The volunteers’ pool for the Adopt-a-School projects is composed of Aboitiz scholars and employees, and members of the company’s partner organizations University of San Carlos-Guidance Office, University of San Carlos–Pathways, Resource Room and MegaMoms Cooperative. The program’s success will hopefully serve as an inspiration for replication in other public schools. – PR (THE FREEMAN)