MANILA, Philippines - Extraordinary deeds by ordinary people can make a positive difference in this world. It can be the retiree who trains the unemployed women in the community on livelihood crafts, or the group of athletes that holds sports clinics for street children.
Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is giving these acts of kindness a further boost by way of payITfwd, a new social development initiative that aims to enable the spread of social good acts or “smart acts†using technology.
“The goal is to support, promote, expand, enhance, reward and enable social good efforts that foster learning through technology. With payITfwd, social good advocates can scale up and even encourage the public to support their cause,†said Ramon Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs Group.
Through the initiative, Smart is looking for individuals or groups that are already doing community-based projects that contribute to learning or expansion of knowledge in various fields such as education, environment, disaster preparedness, health, livelihood and sports.
Entries must be submitted in video format showing an overview of the project, its impact to the recipient community, and how technology can enable the project or further spread its benefits.
Smart will be selecting the best 20 entries in a two-round selection process that will run from May 21 up to July 31, and Aug. 16 to Oct. 31 this year. Entries will be judged based on the impact of the project in the community, its novelty and proposed use of technology. Voting of best entries via social media will also have bearing on the final score of entries.
Each of the selected social good advocates, 10 for each round, will receive a technology package comprising five tablets, 1 Smart Bro Pocket Wi-Fi, Smart Bro load worth P3,000, and a cash prize of P50,000.
“While technology can facilitate efficiencies in operations and help expand reach, access to these is often a luxury for community-based initiatives. The program will allow them easy access to such technology simply by reporting what they have already done and are targeting to achieve with the help of technology. This utilizes Smart’s technology solutions to help the spread of social good,†said Stephanie Orlino, Smart Public Affairs manager for education programs.
“Technology not only increases access to learning but enables these smart acts to spread its benefits to more communities thus keeping the ‘good’ going,†added Orlino.
In launching this initiative, Smart hopes to increase learning opportunities of target communities through technology.
To know more about payITfwd and the complete mechanics, visit www.smart.com.ph/payITfwd.