With a common mission of giving micro-entrepreneurs a chance to grow, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom and Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation came together to provide the tools, skills, and mindsets required to help marginalized Filipinos such as former prison inmates, street children, indigenous groups and unlearned adults achieve a humane quality of life.

“Globe, through Globe Bridging Communities, is a company intently focused on sustainability. The My Fair Share Eco-Bag project, which was implemented with GNG in early April, was carried out in the belief that it is worthwhile to invest on the entrepreneurial poor to pursue profit but at the same time care for the community and the planet. And we are delighted to have GNG as a partner since we both believe in the principles of fair trade and the power of micro-entrepreneurs to change lives, ” said Rob I. Nazal, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

The GNG Partner Communities Program has three major components: enhancing the abilities of community partners on enterprise management, product design, fair trade principles, and retail operations; provision of Information and Communications Technology support to facilitate communication on product development, production and delivery; and access to banking services through BPI-Globe BanKO.

“Globe and Gifts and Graces work together to empower community-based micro-enterprises. Communities have the skills. They have the products but not necessarily the know-how on how to run enterprises. Once they receive training, we expect them to come up with a business plan that will enable their livelihood programs to transform into sustainable livelihood enterprises,” said Greg M. Perez, Gifts and Graces Executive Director.

For its part, Globe has allocated P600,000 in financial assistance for the implementation of GNG’s capacity-building program and will also help strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities of its partners by providing market access.

“Many people such as former migrant workers to Japan and former prison inmates are having difficulties finding livelihood but because of our partner communities they are given a chance to improve their lives. But what they are doing is not sustainable because the ones who handle the livelihood program are not trained to do so. That is where the Globe grant comes in,” said Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, President of GNG.

Aside from capacity building, Globe will extend ICT infrastructure support such as netbooks, Globe Tattoo Mobile Internet and Fixed Internet subscriptions, and will assist community-based producers in gaining access to cheaper communications and financial services through BPI-Globe BanKo and the Globe BridgeCom SIM.

At present, Globe already helps three partner communities under GNG, namely: Kaibhan Women’s Association, Pamana Pag-asa Boni Producers Cooperative, and Caritas Manila.

Kaibhan produces the My Fair Share Ecobag which Globe sells through Globe Stores nationwide. To date, Globe has already sold over 16,000 Ecobags, which amounts to P1.4 million. Because of the huge demand for the Ecobags, Pamana Pag-asa and Caritas Manila were also tapped to produce them.

Pamana is a cooperative of urban poor families in Mandaluyong who craft products out of upcycled canvas and tarpaulin and whom Globe is helping by donating used tarpaulins and other materials that can be remade into quality handicrafts. On the other hand, Caritas Manila is the lead catholic agency for social services and development of the Archdiocese of Manila. Its products are made by urban poor individuals and families in their livelihood training program.