MANILA, Philippines - Most of the children on Thursday night admit that they would have had very little opportunity to watch “The Wolverine†on opening day, more so inside a Greenbelt cinema.
But through the advocacy of Childhope Asia Philippines, Inc., 70 of them plus 20 volunteers were able to do so immediately after Dell Philippines' formal announcement that it is giving the organization a second grant that will further its cause to empower the youth and provide underserved communities with access to technology. Indeed, the children had every reason to be smiling as they sat inside the theater while also having their fill of food.
Since last year, Dell has helped to equip a computer lab and mobile education vans with state-of-the-art technology which enable the street children of Manila to have access to these learning tools. Dell team members have also provided skills training in computers and even in creative activities like singing, dancing, and the arts.
“We are very pleased to be able to extend funding support for Childhope Asia’s outreach program,†said Richard Teo, president, Dell Philippines. “Childhope Asia has been a strategic partner of Dell under the Powering the Possible program. The additional funding support is intended to enable further outreach so that the deployed technology can be fully utilized.â€
CHAP has worked with Manila’s underprivileged youth since 1989 and it reaches out to 1,200 street children every year with the mission to uplift them from the hazards of working and living on the streets and give them a better future by providing learning opportunities outside the formal school set-up.
Says Teresita Silva, president and executive director of CHAP, Inc., “The Childhope Board of Directors, staff, and the street children we assist are truly and deeply grateful for the deep commitment and substantial financial support of Dell to street children’s education, which will have a life-long impact on their development and well-being as well as contribution to society as a whole.â€