SM Foundation adapts to ‘new normal’
AMID the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, SM Foundation (SMFI) ensures the continuity of its programs by adapting to the so-called “new normal” of accomplishing things.
Since the start of the lockdown, the SMFI team, specifically their education pillar conducted virtual home visits and interviews for SY 2020-2021 scholar-applicants–especially those who are scheduled during the quarantine period.
Previously done by some SMFI officers, this process is the last step for those who passed the initial screening and exam for a candidate to become a scholar.
SMFI Executive Director for Education Linda Atayde said the success of their online house visits and interview came through digital technology.
“Through digital technology, we were able to establish connections with our candidate scholars. There is a big advantage using the virtual setup because the team from the Foundation were able to reach the scholar applicants faster despite some of the candidates were living in the countryside,” she shared.
Some former SM scholars volunteered to help the team in conducting the virtual home visits and interviews. According to them, this served as a great venue to exercise their spirit for volunteerism considering that they themselves are products of the SM Scholarship Program.
As for SMFI’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program, the team partnered with SM Development Corp. (SMDC) in rolling out its weekly community grocer initiative, The Good Guys Market. Through the collaboration, SMDC residents can now purchase affordable fresh produce while helping and supporting local farmers.
“Aside from partnering with SMDC in providing market linkage to its farmer trainees, the bayanihan spirit lives on amidst the pandemic through its collaboration with its partners, Maricon Mills and Rice Up. Through this partnership, local produce of KSK trainees were gathered and sold at fair market prices in the provinces,” said SMFI AVP for outreach programs Cristie Angeles.
Besides it program pillars, SMFI also launched its Social Good Stories Campaign to strengthen its social development through communication by promoting positivity amid the pandemic and by communicating its social good efforts in a fun and engaging way.