BPA/P, the IT-BPO industry, and TeamAsia reach out to thousands of children

My Dream in a Shoebox 2010 from TeamAsia on Vimeo.

(Manila, Philippines, December 29, 2010) – Award-winning marketing communications firm TeamAsia and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) conducted their second “My Dream in a Shoebox” Christmas outreach for street children. The initiative was undertaken with the Dynamic Teen Company–led by the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida–and the support of sponsors and volunteers from the IT-BPO industry.

The activity took place at the Ladislao Diwa Elementary School in Cavite City, Cavite. Other beneficiaries of the project included cancer-stricken children at the Philippine General Hospital, street children assisted by the Pangarap Foundation, children of impoverished families under the care of the Philippine Navy, and underprivileged children living in informal communities served by the Ascension of the Lord Parish in Parañaque.

TeamAsia and BPAP collected approximately 3,000 shoeboxes filled with school supplies, an increase from the 200 shoeboxes donated last year. The initial goal for this year’s outreach was to collect at least 1,000 shoeboxes. “Our IT-BPO industry friends have generously donated cash and shoeboxes, as well as their time to make this year’s outreach a success. These small shoeboxes filled with school necessities will make a big difference in the lives of street children in Cavite,” said Monette Iturralde-Hamlin, TeamAsia President.

Cash donations were used to purchase school supplies, organize a special Christmas activity for the children, and help build and maintain a learning center–a check for P400,000 was turned over for this purpose to Peñaflorida–for street children in Cavite. A total of 103 volunteers lent their time to share an afternoon of games, story telling, and gift giving with the street children. TeamAsia managing director Michael Alan Hamlin and president Monette Iturralde-Hamlin also served as Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa, respectively.

“At BPAP, we look at education as the building blocks of a child’s attainment of their full potential. This outreach makes us realize how easy it is to contribute to an individual’s education with just a simple shoebox filled with school supplies,” said Raymond Lacdao, BPAP Executive Director for Industry Affairs. “This may seem like a small thing, but small things are out of reach for economically challenged families.”

“I’m overwhelmed with the outpouring of support we received from members and partners in the industry. This level of support tells me we can continue to grow the program next year and provide support for more beneficiaries,” said Oscar Sañez, BPAP President and CEO.

TeamAsia and BPAP worked with the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., Game Developers Association of the Philippines, HIMOAP and the Philippine Software Industry Association. Sponsors included Globe Business, Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu, Fil-Estate Ecocentrum Corporation, Deutsche Bank, PLDT, GlobalOne, Teleperformance, DTSI, Sutherland Global Services, Stream Global Services, and Chevron, among others.