MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Dentsu APAC recently released a short film titled “Women From Home,” allowing viewers a peek into the lives of dentsu’s women during the pandemic. It wasn’t just a wake-up call, but a call to action for creative and effective solutions for the current situation.
For International Women’s Month, Dentsu Jayme Syfu launched #Sistergood’s Dentsu Theycare, one such initiative to address the growing need to give women-from-home a short break and a much needed respite for “mom-me” time.
Every Friday for the month of March, dentsu moms could leave their children in the care of fellow employees for an hour or two. While she enjoyed her me-time, they cared for her kids with virtual activities like Drawing, Kiddie Dungeons and Dragons, Homework Help, KidTV Sing-Alongs, and more.
Merlee Jayme, Global Co-President, dentsu mcgarrybowen and Dentsu JaymeSyfu’s Chairmom, or ‘Teacher Merlee’ to the kids, launched the initiative with a simple and creative “How to Draw Yourself” Class.
“My daughters are all grown up now but I know exactly what these moms are going through. Just an hour of “me time” to put your feet up, relax a bit and not worry about work or the kids is really important to your overall wellness. And, you know what? While teaching kids to draw themselves became my very own stressbuster, I hope I was also giving them a lesson on self-awareness,” she related of the experience.
Shai Avecilla-Riofrio, one of the dentsu moms, said “Working at home with three kids, no helper, online-schooling happening… I barely had time to focus nor have a few minutes for myself or do something for the family. One hour with TheyCare gave me time to prepare for my daughter’s birthday surprise. She even thought that the TheyCare session was for her, as she happily said ‘Teacher Merlee’ drew a portrait of her. It was a happy day for her, so a happy day for me too.”
While moms enjoyed a happy-me-hour to themselves, their kids went on fantastical and magical explorations slaying dragons with a dentsu Dungeon Master or enjoyed belting out tunes to CocoMelon and Disney classics.
It’s never been more clear than in the past year— these extraordinary mommies can do it all. But they don’t have to do it alone.
It’s not just fellow women, or colleagues, that can help. Anyone can make a suggestion by visiting www.dentsuwomenapac.com for ideas on how businesses can help women from home during the pandemic.
