RAH, RAH, RAH! A GLOBAL RISE AGAINST HUNGER
EMPLOYEES OF GLOBE TELECOM JOINED HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE US, ITALY, INDIA AND SOUTH Africa in helping international non-government organization Rise Against Hunger (RAH) achieve its goal of entering the Guinness World Record with the greatest number of people assembling hunger relief packages simultaneously at multiple venues in five minutes.
The activity, held recently in celebration of World Food Day, was also a way for all parties to publicly show commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 2, that is to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.”
Amid an atmosphere of excitement, 214 volunteers from the Philippines were able to complete the task of packing meals consisting of a vitamin sachet, soy, veggies and rice in barely three minutes. The Philippine team also had the most number of participants out of 832 volunteers from over 10 sites globally.
The Philippine volunteers were propelled into action not only by the knowledge that they will be part of history but more because of their innate desire to help. All meals packed during the Manila leg will be distributed to families in Cagayan Valley and Benguet who suffered from the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong last September.
“While I’m proud to be part of this momentous event, I am here primarily because I want to help even if there is no recognition,” said Danni Fernandez, head of Globe Office Collaboration who also participated in the volunteering activity. “I am also overwhelmed because we were able to do a good deed and set a record at the same time.
”Funds for the Philippine meal packs came from donations by some 17,500 Globe customers of their Globe Reward points amounting to P1.1 million, which was matched by Globe for a total donation of P2.2 million. Even after the Guinness challenge, the volunteers continued to pack the rest of the over 22,000 meal packs which will provide 1,500 families with sustenance for at least 14 days.
“While Globe works towards reaching its business goals, it also provides employees with greater opportunities to help in the communities and marginalized sector of our country through various means. Supporting Rise Against Hunger in this meal packing activity is one way of instilling a sense of higher purpose among our employees,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.
In 2017 alone, Globe employee volunteerism reached an all-time high of 3,803 unique employee volunteers, comprising more than half of the entire Globe workforce.
Globe is an active supporter of RAH which has been fulfilling its commitment to end hunger across the globe for 20 years. RAH produces healthy food packs for calamity response and facilitates packing activities to enable large groups of volunteers to take part in relief operations.