IGFI And AGFI: Partners For Change
The ICCP Group Foundation, Inc. (IGFI) is the philanthropic arm of the Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP) and twelve other corporations. It has six core advocacies - livelihood, community empowerment, job generation, environment, health, and education. For its education-related programs, IGFI’s main partner is Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. (AGFI). Deo Esmabe, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for IGFI, shares his views about why he thinks the partnership works.
Deo says that when the two groups started working in 2017, he was struck by the approach of AGFI to literacy and education. Babies and very young children are given age- and culturally-appropriate books while parents and guardians attend learning sessions on the importance of early literacy. For AGFI, health and education go hand in hand; thus, most of its programs are carried out through rural health units and barangay health centers. Since IGFI’s primary goal as an organization is to empower the local communities where it operates, Deo believes that AGFI helps IGFI get to know the members of its communities better through its early literacy work. These members become the communities’ agents of change.
Both organizations value the role played by beneficiaries. The success of any endeavor requires the collaboration of everyone involved from the local government to all its stakeholders. But among all those involved, it is clear to IGFI and AGFI that the most important stakeholders are the beneficiaries because their time, efforts, and talent serve as the backbone of any project.
Finally, sustainability is a common goal shared by the IGFI and AGFI partnership. In Deo’s words, “Hindi mawawala sa panahon yung programa dahil laging mayroong batang nangangailangan, laging mayroong batang kailangan turuan, laging mayroong bagong nanay na kailangan ipaunawa yung importansya ng early literacy.”
At present, the partnership has brought the Barangay Early Literacy Program to Hermosa, Bataan, San Fernando, Pampanga, and Malvar and Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and Unang Aklat to Hermosa, Bataan. In terms of reach, the partnership has benefited one municipality, 401 families, and 20 health personnel; and has distributed 345 board books to babies. Soon, Unang Aklat will be brought by IGFI and AGFI to Malvar and Sto. Tomas, Batangas.