The true gifts

Stollen, Gluehwein, Raeuchermaennchen—the essentials of the German Festive Season! It’s been four years since I was last home to celebrate the Holiday Season with my family. And although I manage to get my hands on all of the above even in Manila, it’s still not the same. Simply because there is more to the Holiday Season than tastes and smells.

It is spending time with family and friends, baking cookies, wrapping gifts, and strolling over the town’s x-mas markets to find that good old Gluehwein booth again. I did all of the above and loved it, despite the lack of snow and the mild temperatures in Chemnitz.

Christmas Eve was special for various reasons. For one, we celebrated a day early since Glenn and I had a plane ticket for the US on the 24^th. Second, Glenn was there for the first time, experiencing my family’s traditions. Third, this time we were on the broadcasting side of the Skype-chat, sharing our Santa Claus visit with Glenn’s family in the US.

After our traditional potato salad and sausage dinner (the vegetarian seems to miss out on Saxon food traditions…) Santa Claus made his appearance with three loud knocks on the door. Selina (5) was all excited and ready to recite her songs and poems in order to get her gifts. She's got the routine down! Samira (2), on the other hand, just cried and hid! Coming to think of it, Santa Claus is a rather creepy figure…

Once Santa had left Selina and Samira turned into Santa’s helpers and started distributing all the gifts piled up under the (fake) tree. For the next hours, we were busy unwrapping, laughing, thanking, hugging, and gathering our loot. A nice gift indeed, to spend these hours with my family!

Volunteerims?

I was registered at the Volunteering Expo in Manila, as a 'conference delegate'. That's what my name tag said. I had no idea what it meant. A delegate for what? Volunteerism?

I'm always surprised how the concept of volunteerism and that of development work is used almost interchangeably. To me there is a big difference between the short term need of volunteers in the face of natural disasters or humanitarian crisis (such as relief efforts of the Red Cross) and the long term strategic efforts of development workers to take on developmental issues (such as my organization does).

If I had it my way, all of the development efforts would focus on economic development. Because even the conflicts dubbed 'religious' are at their core nothing else but peoples' inability or insecurity on how to feed their families.

Anyway, so here I was, a development worker for economic development, signed up for a whole day event to learn about volunteerism. The list of resource speakers starred prestigious names. (Former) political and public figures. Many of them used this platform to brag about their achievements during their administration or to do some personal PR.

I often wondered if the speakers had been briefed properly. This event was supposed to promote 21st century volunteerism in the Philippines to local and foreign practitioners and potential volunteers.

What we listened to was a lesson on Philippine history, most of which was delivered in Tagalog. Apparently, volunteers "turned the revolution around".

Besides the heroic act of dying for a better cause I learned that the essence of a volunteer is that (s)he:

• stands fast
• sacrifices much
• suffers long for a worthy cause
• possesses a strong sense of self worth

Huh? All of a sudden I wasn't sure if I had entered the right conference room. Is this a lecture on Catholicism or did I end up in the Philippine Army's recruitment office?

Sentences like "... for the greater good of the country and, of course, the greater glory of God" or "The youth is a potent weapon for change" fit both scenarios.

The resource speaker who was supposed to talk about the 'Business Culture of Caring and Sharing' started his speech with "remember 1946!" Gee! The average age of the audience was probably around 28! He kept on talking about how, back in the days, he was fascinated with the communist movement. Now I was the one fascinated to see how he was going to bridge communism to volunteerism!

He kept on reminiscing how he had organized student 'cells' wherein one student leads 10 others. I left the room when he exclaimed that 'the students died freely'! I'm all for freedom of speech but that doesn't mean I have to listen to it.

One of the speakers allowed himself a Freudian slip when he said 'we are forcing volunteerism...' to quickly correct himself saying 'what I meant to say is you have to ascertain your vision.' I see. What's the vision again? Who's vision?

I left the whole conference ahead of time when he seriously pronounced: 'Don't fix the problem, fix the blame!'

To me, this summed up the importance and impact of volunteerism in the context of development work. Zero.

SCOPE winning AmCham's CSR award!

SCOPE project partner Dole Stanfilco, through its implementing partner Kasilak Development Foundation Inc., won the 3^rd AmCham CSR Excellence Award. Its activities under the Crates for Trees – A corporate response towards environmental rehabilitation and protection beyond compliance were acknowledged in the category Creating Sustainable Livelihood. The award honors projects or programs that improve peoples’ living standards through sustainable livelihood projects or the promotion of entrepreneurship.

For Dole Stanfilco, protecting the environment is not only mandated by law. It is the company’s commitment to protect the soil that sustains its core business: fruit production. Enhancing critical watersheds through massive reforestation protects the ground water level vital for the plants, while avoiding soil erosion that diminishes fertile ground.

At the same time the company acknowledges the communities’ basic need for construction and fuel-wood and is committed to bring employment and income opportunities to the communities it operates in.

Dole Stanfilco’s effort to engage the communities in income generating activities while protecting the environment is supported by the Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership for Local Development Program (SCOPE) since 2006. Under the Crates for Tree project, Dole allocates funds to support reforestation activities for every plastic crate shipped to the market.

The key to sustained environmental protection and income generation is the production forest concept. Protected areas such as steep slopes and watersheds are planted to slow growing and endemic tree species, while more accessible areas, especially around communities, are planted to fast growing tree species, which can be harvested according to a harvest plan.

The community members actively earn from seedling production, land preparation, planting and harvesting activities and from non-timber forest products such as coffee, abaca, seeds, and fossilized leaves. Currently, the project covers farmer families in 11 municipalities in Bukidnon, Mindanao.

The project’s recognition through an independent third party is an invaluable honor for the SCOPE Team.

Time to grow!

Yesterday, I proudly witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and one of my project partners, Bote Central Coffee company.

The objective of this partnership is to harness Bote Central's expertise in urban coffee retailing to provide sustainable self-employment assistance to the beneficiaries of DSWD's "conditional cash transfer" program. The program provides the poorest of the poor with financial assistance over a 5-year period. To make the intervention sustainable, DSWD provides additional assistance through its Sustainable Livelihood Program.

In 2007, Bote Central approached me with a crazy idea: enable farmers in the coffee growing areas to roast their green coffee beans through a community-based coffee roasting facility! Bote Central's idea of enabling coffee farmers to add value to their green coffee beans, thus making them earn more money, was very well in line with the objectives of the Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership Program, or SCOPE. The project was sealed and three communities (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao) were provided with a roasting facility to trial test the approach of farmer empowerment through:

• increased income from product diversification (selling roasted, ground, or brewed coffee in their community is now an alternative to selling green coffee beans at a low price.)
• quality improvement (farmers able to drink their own coffee will eventually get a taste for good vs. bad quality! Corresponding higher or lower prices for good or bad quality beans is another incentive to raise quality awareness.).
  

At the same time the roasting facility proved itself useful in the urban areas such as supermarkets, the wet-markets, or small cafes in Metro Manila. Freshly roasted and brewed coffee served per cup became an alternative to the instant coffee products in the market - at a competitive or even lower price! The businesses are doing fine, providing a low-cost coffee alternative to cab drivers, office workers, or house-wives for their caffeine kick.

This is innovative model has been picked up by the DSWD as one of the enterprises which can provide self-employment to its CCT beneficiaries. The first pilot has been started in Pasay City last September, with 12 women enrolled in the CCT program. Their testimony before DSWD secretary "Dinky" Soliman was promising: since they sell brewed coffee at their snack stalls, they attract more customers, sell more and increase their income! A good start!

And while local coffee is consumed in Metro Manila, the farmer in the rural areas will feel the impact of increased demand for his coffee beans next time a trader knocks on his farm gate. If the farmer has access to a community-based roasting machine, he can either sell none of his harvest or all of it, depending on the offer... he now has the bargaining power to do so.

Why am I proud of this development? For two reasons.

First, I'm happy to see that an innovative approach to meaningful economic development and income generation, one which SCOPE supported when their was no blue print for it yet, is taking off and gaining recognition on a national level!

Second, I am happy to see institutions like the DSWD acknowledging the necessity and benefits of engaging the private sector in their efforts to provide jobs and income. As Executive Assistant Georgina Ann Hernandez said, it is time to bridge the gap between the private sector and organizations providing social preparation through a "market first" approach. She said, "before we go into product development we'll make sure there is a market".

That is exactly what we do through SCOPE! On an individual company basis, we embed small-scale producer groups into its value chain. On average, we work with 10 to 20 people. I've always wondered how SCOPE can reach more people. I found the answer yesterday: by illustrating our approach on a small scale, proving our case, and handing it over to facilitators who can role it out nationwide.

It's time to grow! Thank you, Bote Central and DSWD!

SCOPE at La Salle University

It was my friend Zarah who first got me in touch with this energetic group of La Salle business students. Over a cup of coffee they explained their "social enterprise" ideas to me.

Social Entrepreneurship is the in-thing right now, just like strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Creating Shared Value (CSV). Business Schools are quick to emphasize the "social" component of their future graduates' future businesses... neglecting the fact that, in order to be social, the business needs to be sustainable.

I see this kind of mindset a lot: within the development work. I also see that "business ideas" driven by social problems rather than market demand hardly ever work.

When the La Salle students invited me to be a resource speaker at their 4th Business Management Students' Convention, carrying the theme "Social Business: Create, Transform, Influence", I immediately agreed. Identifying Sustainable Business Models became the core message of my presentation. I enjoy talking to young people with open minds and the ability (and willingness) to recognize logic when it presents itself to them.

And "logical" examples I have plenty of in my SCOPE tool box. All of them based on a sustainable business model which starts by identifying a market demand.

Instead of talking about "social enterprises" I challenged the students to explain to me the difference between a "conventional" enterprise (providing jobs, income, training, products, services, innovation etc.) and a "social" enterprise. At first, blank stares. Later, nodding heads. My message was sinking in, and the participants ended up asking interesting questions.

Zarah, my former colleague and mentor in 2006/2007 and Head of Global Responsibility of Starbucks Philippines today, underlined my sustainable business-model-framework by sharing the company's impact on society by providing jobs as well as a market to coffee farmers by being a profitable business.

It was great to share the floor again with Zarah. We had the same influence which shaped our minds back then. I'm sure it showed in our streamlined presentations and messages today.

SCOPE in the Media

Again, some media mileage for the SCOPE program in the local newspaper! It makes me happy to see the word is spreading about our simple yet effective approach to provide meaningful income opportunities to Filipino men and women!

The fall of the Berlin wall

50 years ago, in 1961, the Berlin Wall was built, dividing East and West Germany for 28 years. Today, we celebrate the 12th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, the Iron Curtain, the beginning of the end of the Cold War.

In German history November 9 is an important date, marking positive and negative events along the way. (Which is one of the reasons why German Day of Unity is not November 9 but October 3.)

Let's trace back some of the more "recent" events on a November 9 in German history.

In 1918, the Weimar Republic was proclaimed today. The proclamation happened twice: by Philipp Scheidemann who proclaimed a democratic republic as well as by Karl Liebknecht, who proclaimed a socialist republic. Scheidemann's democratic idea prevailed. Monarchy was prelaced by a republic with a constitution - the birth of the Weimar Republic.

In 1923, November 9 marked Hitler's first attempted to seize power during the "Munich Putsch". Although unsuccessful in this coup d'etat, it gave rise to the Nazi Party which later ruled Germany.

November 9, 1938 is the sad date remembered as "Kristallnacht". Synagogues were burned to the ground and more than a thousand Jews killed... a herald of the cruelties against humanity during the following World War II.

November 9, 1989: the fall of the Berlin Wall!

Today we look back at the our German history. For the bad events not to be denied, forgotten or repeated! At the same time to acknowledge the long way the country has come - from separation to unity to European leader.

Let's talk about HIV/Aids!

The topic of HIV/Aids is one close to my heart. The deadly virus was a research project in biology class in 8th grade. Theory got filled with life (or death) visiting an HIV/Aids orphanage in South Africa many years later. During my year in Cambodia the topic was always present, at least among the international aid community trying to fight the rampant spread of the virus in a country sadly well known for sex tourism. Here in the Philippines, for the first time, HIV/Aids got a more personal dimension. A friend of mine was diagnosed with the virus two years ago. Since then his condition is deteriorating rapidly.

To talk about HIV/Aids in the Philippines, a Catholic country where city ordinances deem condoms illegal, surely invites an interesting discussion! I'm glad my friend Zarah took the courage to dedicate one of the Starbucks Dialogues to this emotional, inconvenient, and philosophically charged topic.

At a Starbucks in Cebu, a good crowd of 50 people gathered after work to dwell about the issue over a cup of coffee.

The discussion started with a member of CebuPlus, a support group working with HIV positive people. He outed himself as carrying the virus and shared his experiences of the stigma surrounding HIV+ people in society.

Next was Niccolo Cosme, a gay photographer who had seen too many of his friends die. He started the Red Whistle Project, drumming up awareness for HIV/Aids with the catchy slogan “Blow me!”.

After some beating around the bush being diplomatically vague of what exactly 'risky behavior' is in the context of contracting HIV, the conversation opened up and shifted the focus from 'Injecting Drug Users' (IDUs) too a broader audience: basically everybody whose sexually active.

There are various dimensions about HIV/Aids. There is the de-stigmatizing and re-socializing of HIV positive people. There is care taking of positive family members. There is treatment of HIV-related diseases and anti-retroviral therapy. There is basic information about the virus and its transmission. And, there is active prevention.

The latter, according to the department of Health (DoH) representative, whom I challenged on the promotion of condom use in the Philippines, is achieved by abstinence and choosing the right time for first sexual intercourse.

Renaud Myer, country director of UNDP Philippines, which is “Promoting Leadership and Mitigating the Negative Impacts of HIV and AIDS on Human Development", put my thoughts into words when he said: "Abstinence? Are you kidding me? Promoting abstinence in a country that has the highest population growth in Asia obviously does not work!"

The most simple, accessible, and affordable form of preventing the spread of HIV/Aids--the condom--is condemned as sinful in the Philippines. The church, promoting 'Yes to Life', let's people walk blindly into the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases by curtailing information and condemning the easiest form of protection (which is available in every gas station and 7Eleven!). How 'Yes to Life' is that?

It struck me how little seemed to be known about HIV among the audience. One girl was wondering what the hype is all about... It turned out she didn't know there is no cure for HIV/Aids. Can you blame a girl in her early 20s, most likely sexually active, for not knowing such basics if the Philippine school curriculum has HIV/aids on the agenda yet it is not taught in class because the teachers are ashamed or worse, afraid because the school is on Parish grounds? Hardly.

Instead of weeding out the roots of the problem, we chose to do crisis management once the damage is done: re-integrating positive people in society and trying to keep them alive with expensive medicines most of them can't afford. Basic information about the virus and a simple rubber devise could have spared them from all this.

I'm not advocating many things. But I am an advocate for HIV/Aids education and promotion of condom use! We have all the knowledge and technology to protect ourselves from contracting the virus. Different from cancer for example, medical science has deciphered the HI-virus. It’s understood and there are options to protect you. Nobody should fall prey to HIV/Aids anymore in the 21st century! I consider any attempt to knowingly curtailing information and access to protection criminal, a censorship, which violates individual's right to make an educated choice over life or death.