Pupils receive Christmas gifts from Davao firm
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
EVEN before the Christmas rush, Grade 1 pupils of Binugao Central Elementary School and Felipe Calderon Elementary School in Davao City were already in high spirits after receiving gifts of school kits and storybooks from Jewm AgroIndustrial Corporation.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the company adopted the two schools situated near its livestock and poultry farms and provided the immediate needs of students coming from less fortunate families.
In fact, the schoolbags they received are not even the ordinary ones as these have been equipped with safety features.
“We put safety features in your bags. There are reflectorized stickers to keep you away from road accidents. There are transparent pockets where you can insert name tags and other information in case of emergency. There are side pocket nets where you can carry bottled water and foldable umbrella. I hope you will take good care of your bags so they will last long,” said Jewm AgroIndustrial Corporation representative Aileen Tan.
The company, through Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), also gave storybooks to help improve the pupils’ reading skills and give them easier access to books in their classrooms.
Many students in public schools have poor reading skills because they lack books that are ageappropriate and relevant to their curriculum. In some schools, students do not have access to a library because it has either been converted into a classroom to accommodate its large population or there are no resources to build a library.
Jewm has been a staunch supporter of PBSP’s off-the-shelf programs like “Give a Gift of Change” packages on reading nooks, scholarship support and supplemental feeding. It helped several other schools in Davao in previous years.
“These kids are lucky because during my time we had no opportunities like these. But now Binugao is already an industrial zone surrounded by business establishments like Jewm that give support to schools and communities through their CSR initiatives,” said Arlinda Daro, Education Committee chairperson of Barangay Binugao. She is also an alumna of Binugao Central Elementary School.
After the turnover ceremony, a storytelling activity was also conducted to selected Grade 1 pupils. Big books with colorful illustrations coupled with the enthusiasm of teachers captivated the attention of students. The recipient schools vowed to make storytelling a regular activity to help pupils develop a love for reading and keep them in school.
The interventions are part of the company’s 40th anniversary celebration themed “A vision of faith, a mission of service, together with others.” PR