Jared Discovers: FSSI Supports Social Entrepreneurs To Grow Local Communities

Social investment non-profit organization Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. {FSSI} continues to scale up social entrepreneurship by offering financial and non-financial products to Filipino enterprises, promoting inclusive socio-economic growth and environmental sustainability.

The British Council, supported by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, reported that social enterprises in the country have struggled to balance their environmental and financial goals to achieve business stability and effectively measure their overall impact. FSSI addresses this challenge through its triple bottom line (3BL) approach, which measures People, Planet, and Profit as the main indicators. Through this approach, FSSI has benefited over 280 local social enterprises, resulting in deeper support to the communities they belong to, more paths to sustainability, and more
profitable businesses – all at the same time.

“Social enterprises aim to create social and environmental impact, while maintaining a viable business at the same time,” said Sixto Donato C. Macasaet, Executive Director at FSSI. “In order to achieve their goals, we and our partners from national civil society organizations and international organizations help them address their challenges through our needs-based services that include loans, developmental deposits, seed capital, and equity investment.”

Women-led enterprise Mallig FST Multi-Purpose Cooperative is engaged in lending, savings deposits, agricultural inputs trading and mechanization services, and rice milling. In 2022, the cooperative expanded and opened a gas station in Mallig, Isabela to create jobs for their immediate community.

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Announcement: A Coca-Cola Bayanihan In The Midst Of A Pandemic

The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Philippines contribute aid to Filipinos impacted by Super Typhoon Odette

Meanwhile, the local Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines has provided humanitarian aid to 5,420 families, donating P5.8 million for food packs, hygiene kits, shelter or roof repair kits, drinking water, and water filtration kits to help them cope in the aftermath of the typhoon. Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines has channeled its assistance through its NGO partners Water and Life
Philippines, World Wildlife Fund-Philippines, Caritas-Manila, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Gawad Kalinga, World Vision, Synergeia Foundation, and Waves 4 Water.

“The Coca-Cola Foundation is resolute in its commitment to communities by extending humanitarian aid to those in need,” says Saadia Madsbjerg, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation. “We recognize the devastating impact of natural disasters and the pandemic especially on vulnerable communities with limited resources.”

Cecile Alcantara, President of Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, adds: “Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines and its trusted partners will continue to serve Filipinos not only through our programs on waste management, water stewardship, education, and youth and women empowerment but also through our long-held commitment to disaster relief. The resilience of a Filipino is always strengthened when we come together—and we are here to give our unrelenting support, one day at a time.”

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Calel’s Wacky Art Shirts: Spreading Autism Awareness, 1 Shirt At A Time

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Even though the word Autism is commonly heard, still there are several speculations about Autism and of the people affected by it. In the Philippines, it is estimated that there are around 1 million people living with Autism, yet not everybody can understand what it it’s like. The Autism spectrum Disorder is a condition where a person who is diagnosed with it will not have the same experiences but are noticed by the core symptoms.

Meet Calel, he is a 6-year old who was diagnosed with ASD {Autism Spectrum Disorder} at the age of four. A year ago, he discovered his love for animals and drawing and once he starts on a sketch pad he just cannot stop – his mother Marie, started posting his artwork on Facebook, when a friend commented that if in the case the drawing is produced to be printed on a t-shirt – he definitely would buy.

After a few months, Marie launched Calel’s Wacky Art Shirts for 3 reasons: to help with Calel’s therapy needs, to develop the business to eventually be taken over by Calel (when he gets older) and to spread Autism awareness.

Anybody would know that Occupational aned Speech therapy is costly, plus there are limited specialists in the Philippines. Kids with ASD need to attend SPED (Special Education) classes which can cost up to 60,000Php a year. For every shirt purchased, this will help Calel’s parents to make sure he gets the special treatments that he needs.

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Calel’s future is still unclear at the age of 6, he shows signs of progress but it is hard to tell if he will be able to live a normal life or yet alone become employed, if this becomes a success, Calel’s Wacky Art Shirts may become his own business to handle.

With the first batch of t-shirts printed and distributed, people that order have started to ask about Calel and his condition ~ this helps Marie to talk about Autism and educate them on what Calel and their parents experience day-to-day including the highs and low.

There are so many designs to choose from and each is unique which you will surely love. T-shirt’s come in kids, men, and women’s sizes.

Calel’s Wacky Art Shirts are being offered at introductory prizes for the first 100 customers.

Please visit their Instagram account for updates and designs: instagram.com/calelswackyartshirts

You may help Calel by purchasing a shirt through their Shoppee account: https://shopee.ph/mamaneesshop

They are also accepting donations for art materials like sketch pads, crayons, colored pencils and pens.

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