Guanzon Mobitek supports Sony Ericsson, Ericsson Philippines, SM Supermalls in launching UNICEF Mobile Education for Children on the Streets of the Philippines

Sony Ericsson creates “I-Share Ang  Saya” campaign to support project

     Coming from the highly successful million smile campaign for UNICEF, Sony Ericsson has partnered anew with SM Supermalls for “I-Share Ang Saya” in cooperation with Guanzon Mobitek in launching the campaign via an exhibit  that set up donation bins at SM Baguio for the public to contribute from December 7 to 13, 2009.  The new campaign will support UNICEF’s Mobile Education and Child Protection Program for Children on the streets of Manila.

     Sony Ericsson and sister company Ericsson Telecommunications, Inc. Philippines are donating Php1 million for a mobile education van, a vehicle which will help educate children in areas where they stay around the city.  The vehicle will be equipped with a laptop and mobile broadband access, plus other communication equipment to help facilitate sessions on the streets led by trained street educators and social workers.  Along with their families, these children will have better access to education, skills training, counseling and social services.

     Studies estimate that there are at least 250,000[children on the streets scattered in major cities nationwide. 50,000 of which are “highly visible street children” meaning they spend most of their days and nights on the streets. The Mobile Education and Protection Programme for Street Children is an innovative approach that involves the local government and non-government organizations (NGOs) working to give these children a second chance.  The NGO partner for this particular program is the Lingap Pangkabataan Inc. The NGO employs trained street educators and social workers to provide support services like counseling, parenting sessions for adults and caregivers, reintegration or mainstreaming of street children to formal school or referral to Alternative Learning Sessions (ALS) and vocational skills training programs.  This can help prevent violence and abuse, by getting children off the streets and giving parents or caregivers more support. 

  “We at UNICEF are grateful to our valued corporate partners for their continued support to Filipino children.  These funds serve as a lifeline to children on the streets, giving them life skills and the opportunity for a better future,” said UNICEF Country Representative Ms. Vanessa Tobin.

     “We are formally launching the project with UNICEF and at the same time, introducing the new Sony Ericsson handsets — Satio, Aino and Kita– to the local market in these traveling expos.  As our previous partnership with SM Supermalls and UNICEF has proven, we have a unique opportunity to protect our children’s right to education, wherever they may be situated,” said Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson General Manager.

     “We consider this project with UNICEF a milestone Corporate Responsibility project for Ericsson.  We are even more pleased to be working with our sister company, Sony Ericsson,” said Rajendra Pangrekar, Ericsson Philippines President and Country Manager.  “I speak for all our partners when I say that we value this project for what it represents:  the opportunity to turn things around and give these children a fighting chance to have a safer, and hopefully more comfortable and productive life.”

     “We at Guanzon Group of Companies are very happy to be part of this campaign,” said Norman Tandoc, Guanzon Mobile Phone Division  head for marketing and operations. “In our own little way, participating in this kind of campaign is part  of  our corporate mission”, Tandoc said.

      “I-Share Ang Saya” will run in SM Supermalls from now until January 2010.  The exhibition will move across SM North EDSA, SM Mall of Asia, SM Cebu, SM Davao, SM Baguio, SM Pampanga, SM Bacolod, SM Iloilo, SM Naga and SM Megamall.