JCI RISE - local projects

Rising Up Together: Breaking Boundaries, Building Hope

JCI RISE depicts community humanitarian relief efforts for affected communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and victims of crisis such as the Taal Volcano eruption. These challenges have awakened the spirit of ‘modern-day bayanihan (cooperative undertaking)’. From individual citizens to private firms alike, we have all provided help, support and resources to augment government efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, as well as mitigate its impact to the public. JCI Silang Cattleya and its members to move towards the goal of “Rising Up Together: Breaking Boundaries, Building Hope”. This program aimed to translate our vision of a well-being economy into action and to help build the resilience of communities to the economic fallout. These were our efforts:

In light of the Taal Volcano eruption, JCI Silang Cattleya also offered support groups and pocket sessions with displaced victims. Together with JCI Silang Pasimuno and other members from Area 3, JCI Silang Cattleya was instrumental in the planning and execution of the relief efforts to these communities. We also played a role in helping out the local executives of Silang in choosing key evacuation centers for certain demographics.

In terms of livelihood, Be Vocal for Local campaign was an on-line group page designed to feature local talents, sellers, and food delivery people. This campaign supported the local community of Iba Silang Cavite whose livelihoods were greatly affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine brought by the COVID-19 health crisis. Additionally, JCI Silang Cattleya facilitated distribution of the Mom’s Love bags. This group immediately called for help in dealing with the current situation to support the most vulnerable sector which consists of pregnant and lactating mothers. It is time to rise to our full potential as leaders, to meet challenges with innovation, and to lift each other up. Through the Rising Up Together: Breaking Boundaries and Building Hope program, our campaigns and initiatives support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by promoting local products and services in a way that can uplift and boost the economy. Let us aim to promote more community and humanitarian projects in Rebuild, Invest, Sustain and Evolve towards ONE Future for ALL. Indeed, JCI definitely Cares for us to RISE.

Yllana Pop-Up Shop

The JCI Yllana Pop-Up (For People, Not for Profit) is an ongoing fundraising program that goes full circle in giving back to the community by showcasing and selling products made by local businesses and indigenous peoples and using the profits to aid people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Awarded as the Best Fundraising Program during the 2020 JCI Philippines Temiong Awards—the highest recognition given to a project, chapter, or member of JCI Philippines – the program had the following activities that were conducted through physical pop-up shops and social media, maximizing its Facebook and website Shop Tab, live selling, and promotion through Facebook and Instagram posts:

Selling products made by indigenous communities such as the Yakan people of Basilan and the Subanen people of Zamboanga del Sur; pooling donations in cash and in kind from generous individuals; Selling items from our flagship upcycling program Craftsura, which converts discarded materials into new products with added value, including garments made from flour sacks, bags from tarpaulins, and pillowcases from sublimation banners; Selling goods from our own members’ micro and small businesses

The highlight of the JCI Yllana Pop-Up is its partnership with various economic sectors and members of the community. Beyond generating funds for the local chapter, the flagship fundraising project also supported multiple sectors of the community needing help because of the pandemic. This initiative provided local businesses and indigenous peoples more marketing avenues and platforms for economic growth.

Other items were specially curated to include only the products that push the advocacies of JCI Yllana forward such as zero-waste products, water tumblers, stickers, rice straws, and upcycled products. Furthermore, this fundraising program has truly embodied the core of JCI’s global effort, JCI RISE, helping businesses and economies stay afloat during trying times. It has allowed JCI Yllana to continue to serve the community despite a global health crisis.

Through sales made from Pop-Up products and donations from various stakeholders, the local organization was able to provide care kits to frontliners and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) amounting to PHP 807,750 (USD 16,762). It also produced at-home learning kits for 115 kids affected by the suspension of academic activities in the country, with a total value of PHP 23,000 (USD 477).

Provided as a pandemic relief project, these care kits include food packs, personal protective equipment such as DIY face shields made from commonly-available school and office supplies, surgical and cloth face masks, and medical-grade suits, hygiene and sanitation products, vitamins and COVID-19 test kits. Despite the national lockdowns and the forced closure of businesses, it has provided income to local eateries, restaurants and local cooks who prepared the food packs and to the local suppliers of such items.

Overall, the JCI Yllana Pop-Up has an estimated value of PHP 851,150 (USD 17,662) for the year 2020. This project started out as a simple fundraising project by the local organization. However, as the COVID-19 outbreak intensified and affected more people in the community, it became a partnership that provided hope for all sectors involved during an overwhelming situation. It continues this hope through collaborations with more groups, businesses, and generous individuals for a wider scope of help moving forward, thus becoming for people and not for profit.

Ayuda sa Balik Pasada

The Philippine Jeepney is the most common form of public transportation in the country and is hailed “King of the Road”. Jeepneys are usually painted in vibrant colors and adorned with flashy ornaments. Some even have religious icons, Philippine landscapes, and tourist destinations painted on them. Jeepneys are considered a Filipino icon as they are made and found only in the Philippines. In 1945, Jeepneys were first made to solve the mass transportation problem and have remained since. Most jeepneys can accommodate 10-25 passengers at once.

When the COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the national government put the country in quarantine. This has forced the people to remain in their homes, provincial borders to close and businesses to stop operations. Thereby, suspending all means of mass transportation, including the jeepneys. Life was at a standstill. Like the rest of the countries, the Healthcare industry was hard hit in this pandemic. But one of those directly affected in the Philippines is the transportation industry. The Kings of the Road or Jeepney drivers were forced to stop operations indefinitely. This means they had no source of income for that time period.

Due to social distancing protocols and restrictions at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the transportation industry was severely hit, leaving most public utility vehicle drivers unemployed. JCI Lipa, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Lipa, launched the project Assistance for Public Vehicle Drivers (Ayuda sa Balik Pasada) on September 8-12, 2020. The project raised 8,500 USD ( 412,000 PHP) in funding to provide 200 jeepney drivers from our local community with a free change oil service and a complete set of social distancing plastic barriers, an operational requirement set by the local government. These services and items were enough to support their operations for the next six months as they slowly recovered from financial hardships. Grocery packs from corporate sponsors were also provided for the jeepney drivers and their families.

The local government of Lipa City lauded this project’s impact on the local transportation industry, and JCI Philippines duly awarded it as the Best Local Economic Development Program at the 2020 JCI Philippines South Luzon Area Conference. Jasmine Silverio, who spearheaded the project, was also conferred the Most Outstanding Project Chairman merit award at the JCI Philippines 2020 National Convention.