MANILA – “One Day for Change,” or ODFC is an annual volunteer initiative of the Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), which was held on Friday, May 19 in the Philippines and in 14 different markets in Asia Pacific. The event allowed DAN executives and employees volunteer their time for this chosen advocacy. In its fourth year, ODFC has allowed all DAN agencies in each of the markets to come together, on the same day, to support a cause or charity within their local communities to create maximum impact through a collective effort.
This year, DAN Philippines chose to be different and better. It engaged in projects that coached children to be “DANger Ready.” It went to three different locations with one advocacy dubbed as One DAN Prepares for Life, a call which essentially prepares people especially children for any calamitous eventualities like earthquakes and floods.
Executives and employees of DAN PH, which includes Dentsu Jayme Syfu, Aspac, Carat, Dentsu Media, Vizeum, iProspect and Posterscope, promoted fun and disaster preparedness among children in Bahay Aruga in San Marcelino, Paco, Manila, Onesimo Bulilit in Quiapo, Manila, and Gawad Kalinga in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
DAN PH executives Donald Lim, Boy Pangilinan, Merle Jayme, Alex Syfu, Gladys Basinillo, Oyie Pingol, Shayne Garcia, Vinay Goel, Myrna Lazaro, Patrick Geronimo and 280 employees collaborated in painting DAN Survival Walls in various locations, which conveyed the message of responsibility and readiness in times of serious danger. The volunteers displayed agility as they assisted in building and painting houses in Gawad Kalinga’s Bayanihan Village for indigent families; demonstrated responsibility as they played the jigsaw puzzle board game with children in Bahay Aruga, a halfway house for pediatric children suffering from cancer, which brought joy and wonder to them; painted mascaras in Onesimo Bulilit, a faith-based non-profit NGO working with street children and their families that sparked creativity and uplifted the spirit among the residents.
DAN PH invited speakers from Red Cross to talk about disaster preparedness to equip children with information that will empower them in times of disasters. It also distributed survival kits in the three locations served.
A total of 110 children had enjoyed the fun and learning activities with 281 DAN PH employees who have been divided in three groups namely, Camp Damayan, Camp Aruga and Camp Nagkaisa. They bonded, collaborated, and enjoyed the camaraderie as they worked as “champions for children!”
A CSR program will be nothing more than a program when it’s administered by a select few. That’s why DAN opened it up to every employee, made it easy for them to participate, and recognized their contributions. The uplifting power of purpose, which is quite clear in ODFC, will surely seep into every aspect of the organization. The different agency operations under it have embraced the potency of quick teamwork and are adept at cross-pollinating ideas among the teams to produce more resonant and meaningful programs. ODFC has opened the input, action and satisfaction of social responsibility to everyone at every level in the DAN PH operation. It has indeed created a culture of purpose and prosperity.
Last year, over 6,100 staff across the region participated in One Day for Change giving over 29,000 hours of their time to local communities under the theme ‘Champions for Children’. Building on the same cause for this year, Dentsu Aegis Network staff volunteered their time towards helping underprivileged children in the broad aspects of health, education, water, abuse, family and housing.
