Ford PH employees take part in volunteer activities for Global Caring Month

MANILA: In celebration of the Global Caring Month last September, Ford Philippines conducted virtual and in-person volunteer activities participated in by its employees.

The Global Caring Month is celebrated every September as an annual social responsibility event wherein Ford and dealer employees worldwide take part in various community projects.

In a virtual activity, Ford employees served as teachers in Gawad Kalinga’s (GK) “Paraisong Pambata” program. Over 20 children from GK Sulangon Village in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte engaged in storytelling, painting, and arts and crafts making through video conference. The children were also given school supplies and food essentials by Ford Philippines.

Ford employees also took part in an in-person volunteer activity at GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan while observing proper safety and distancing protocols. Employees planted trees, harvested farm produce, and sorted and packed veggies for distribution to families and communities. Over 350 families from several GK villages and communities in Bulacan benefited from the vegetable packs.

In a statement, Ford Philippines Government and Corporate Affairs Director Josephine Gonzalez said, “The spirit of volunteerism continues at Ford with our Global Caring Month, as we find ways to reach out to communities via online or on-site and initiate projects that truly make a difference. The commitment of each Ford employee to extend a helping hand has never wavered over the years and we are excited to bring our programs to more individuals, families, and beneficiaries in the years to come.”

Aside from volunteer work, Ford Philippines also used mini-grants from the Ford Motor Company Fund to assist GK’s and Save the Children Philippines’ programs for the Global Caring Month. GK used the fund to build water systems in tribal communities in San Fernando, Bukidnon and Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan. Meanwhile, the gratitude grant for Save the Children helped improve the delivery of health and nutrition services in Villareal, Samar to help manage acute malnutrition (child wasting).

Ford Philippines also launched the 13^th edition of the internationally acclaimed Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program last September. This year’s DFSL, themed “Safe Driving in the New Normal,” will address timely topics such as pandemic car care and maintenance, car sanitation and disinfection, and rainy-day driving techniques. The DFSL sessions will be held digitally in order to create a safe and physically distant learning environment.

“This year, we are making the DSFL a more relevant training program for our participants by sharing the necessary driving habits and skills as they navigate the roads in the ‘new normal’. The DSFL is now available and accessible on the digital platform that allows us to expand our reach to more drivers nationwide,” Ford Philippines Communications Director EJ Francisco stated.

With its continuous focus on education, community development, and healthcare, Ford’s corporate social responsibility remains a vital part of the company. Its Automotive Technician Scholarship Program, which runs in collaboration with the AmCham Foundation, has seen the graduation of its fourth batch composed of 30 scholars last July. The goal of the program is to give underprivileged but deserving students access to education to help them improve their economic status.

Ford also supports GK’s “Kusina ng Kalinga” program, which is a strategic solution to hunger and malnutrition among Filipino children. Lastly, the Healthcare Capacity-Building Program aims to improve local citizens’ abilities to assist their families’ and community’s healthcare needs by providing basic healthcare training. Recently, the training was given to resident-volunteers in Capiz and Pampanga.

Photos from Ford Philippines

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