MANILA, Philippines - As Filipinos recall the peaceful revolution which restored democracy in the country 25 years ago, a different kind of people power movement is being mounted by Globe Telecom and ECHOstore. This time, it is a fight against poverty through livelihood programs for marginalized sectors of society.
Globe and ECHOstore (which stands for Environment & Community Hope Organization) are working together to create livelihood opportunities for creative and skilled small businesses to enable them to support economic self-sufficiency in their own communities.
“Through Globe Bridging Communities’ Enterprise Development Program, we continue to provide micro-entrepreneurs with the necessary technology and funding support to sustain their initiatives. As a result, they are able to empower their members to contribute to the welfare of their own families and their immediate communities. By helping people help themselves through entrepreneurship, we are able to give a new meaning to People Power,” said Jeffrey Tarayao, Globe head for corporate social responsibility.
ECHOstore, on the other hand, provides the tools to ensure that the products produced by the community enterprises are properly marketed and appreciated by the general public.