Globe enriches lives through the ‘My Fair Share’ program

MANILA, Philippines - Lucia Calubay, 45, has been with Caritas Manila for only two weeks. A former sewer who used to work on clothing for 17 years, Lucia says that the Globe “My Fair Share” eco-bags were one of the first jobs she took on at Caritas.

“We finished more than 150 pieces in less than a week,” shared Lucia Calubay. “Yung kinita ko sa pagawa ng bags, pandagdag din sa binibigay sa mga anak ko.” Lucia has three children, the youngest is still in elementary school. Lucia’s husband is a company driver and the work she does for Globe’s “My Fair Share” program helps them with their daily expenses. “Siyempre, lahat ng anak ko nag-aaral pa at kailangan din ng pandagdag sa pambaon sa mga anak ko.”

Leonor Gonzales, 62, worked with Lucia on the “My Fair Share” eco-bags.  A Caritas Manila volunteer who often helped with the organization’s feeding programs, Leonor has also been sewing for seven years.  She shared that the eco-bags were one of her favorite sewing jobs. “They were easy to assemble and sew together!” she laughed. But the earnings she received from working on the eco-bags also help her get through the everyday ordeal of having to look for extra money. Leonor’s grandchildren are often left with her and she has adopted two baby girls who were abandoned at a church.

Lucia and Leonor are just two of the women empowered by the “My Fair Share” program of Globe Bridging Communities, the corporate social responsibility arm of Globe Telecom. The program, in partnership with social enterprise Gifts & Graces, Inc., helps small producers such as women sewers of Caritas Manila, Pamana Pag-asa Boni Producers Cooperative in Mandaluyong, and Kaibhan Women’s Association in Bulacan, integrate into the Globe Telecom value chain.

The “My Fair Share” eco-bags are sold for P99 at all Globe Business Centers nationwide and through the Globe Online Shop. “The ‘My Fair Share’ eco-bag project is an initiative that empowers the entrepreneurial poor while taking care of communities and the planet. Globe and Gifts & Graces have been working together since April 2012 with the shared goal of promoting fair trade, micro-entrepreneurship and improving lives,” said Rob I. Nazal, head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

Globe has sold over 16,000 eco-bags, which amounts to P1.4 million. According to Greg Perez, executive director of Gifts & Graces Inc., “Our work is focused on empowering community-based micro-enterprises.  Communities have the skills. As a fair trade organization, we go beyond the provision of livelihood opportunities. Part of our engagement with our partners is a capacity building program for the communities which will help strengthen their entrepreneurial capacities.”

Beyond providing market access to small producers, Globe also extends ICT infrastructure support such as netbooks, Globe Tattoo Mobile Internet and Fixed Internet subscriptions to Gifts & Graces, Inc. Globe will also assist community-based producers in gaining access to cheaper communications and financial services through BPI-Globe BanKo and the Globe BridgeCom SIM.

“The program transforms the way Globe gives back — not only by aiding partners and beneficiary communities with capital, funds for capacity and skills development and ICT tools — but also by empowering them with livelihood opportunities and giving them market access by bringing them into the Globe value chain. Purchasing the My Fair Share products is also a tangible way for employees to contribute to sustain the livelihood of the communities the program supports,” explained Nazal.