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Monday
12 July 2004
The
Philippines is shrouded with problems ranging from poverty to low
life expectancy. 42% of its population is comprised of children/youths
and health services and education are very poorly provided for.
Just by walking down the streets you will come across these issues.
Due to the bad traffic, cars are often standing still in the roads,
and it is then that streams of people come to the car window selling
street goods, or just begging. They're everywhere, and they're impossible
to ignore.
Responsible
companies
In
light of all this, it is more important than ever that businesses
notice the environment they are working in, and use their resources
to help and provide support to communities. This concept is given
the name CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility. Businesses all around
the world are employing CSR and looking to expand their policies
to maximise the help that they can give. When I joined AIESEC, this
is one of the first things I learnt about, as our core work is done
in the company of such organisations.
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| Noli
de Castro |
Therefore,
when I heard there was a three day conference dedicated to such
issues, I jumped at the opportunity to attend. As a member of AIESEC,
I was made welcome, joining esteemed guests including many CEOs
and Presidents of top Filipino brands.
The
opening speech was given by Noli de Castro, the newly elected Vice-President
of the Philippines, which focused on the youth, and set the tone
for the subsequent presentations. Members of the media, entrepreneurs,
and other high profile businessmen joined forces to educate and
inspire growing brands to follow their examples of CSR.
Meeting
the president's daughter
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| Stevie
with Luli Arroyo |
I was
also privileged enough to speak with Luli Arroyo, daughter of the
President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo. She spoke of her growing
dismay at the way the international media portrayed the Philippines,
at which I suddenly felt loaded with a whole lot more responsibility!
CSR
is becoming more and more important everyday. It will be the catalyst
that provides change for the future of the world that we live in,
and our children will live in. For these reasons, it was so pleasing
to see that the Philippines recognises this and is encouraging business
big and small to jump onto the bandwagon.
Read
my diary for 12 July »
Written
by Stevie Cameron
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