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36 The SPiCE Magazine • September 2019 The SPiCE Magazine • September 2019 37

Saved by SPi Global’s Beyond the call of duty

Celebrating Awareness

Blood Donation Drive By Genesis Dimatulac, Wiley Copyediting, Dumaguete

By Maria Leva Lack of access to basic needs continues to affect those

who live in poverty. As well, the irrefutable effects
of climate change threaten and compound the hard-
ships of vulnerable populations. It is in this context that
SPi Global exercises its Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) initiatives. Through its CSR efforts, employee
volunteers tackle these pressing issues in affected
communities and create a ripple of hope.

For this year, SPi Global expanded its CSR programs
with the promise of making them more sustainable
and more impactful. With the primary aim of promot-
ing youth welfare and education, employee volunteers
across all offices set out to penetrate marginalized
“You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” This thought kept replaying in my mind as
communities and introduce information technology to
my husband and I scrambled for contacts who can immediate supply us with three bags of B+ blood. My father-
children and adults alike, implement feeding programs
in-law has been suffering from internal bleeding caused by liver cirrhosis for more than 12 hours. He could go
and other health-related initiatives, and spearhead
into shock from blood loss. We needed blood donations fast, lest we lose him. I never imagined being in this clean-up drives and various environmental conserva-
situation. Often, we express our concern and sympathy for friends and acquaintances who are desperately look- tion and preservation activities.
ing for blood donors, but retreat to our comfortable bubble afterwards, away from worries.

For instance, SPi Global India conducted various
Our relatives readily expressed willingness to donate blood, and we were very thankful. However, our patient
fundraising initiatives to gather support for its CSR
couldn’t wait for many hours of blood testing and extraction. Our only hope then was Red Cross, which also
activities. These include plant selling and setting up
required blood donors for replenishment of the donated blood. Our donors were in our hometown, many miles
juke boxes and food stalls. CSR teams visited schools,
away from the city. This could mean hours of waiting. orphanages, shelters, and senior homes to conduct fun

and heartwarming activities. Not minding the cold weather, SPi Global China employees do-
Our angel came in the form of SPi Global’s CSR blood drive.
nated electronic equipment to a partner school and shared their
After I informed Red Cross personnel that I am from SPi Global and that the blood will be replenished by the SPi Global Vietnam reached out to four beneficiary IT skills. Meanwhile, volunteers from SPi Global Maine collected
incoming second run of this year’s blood drive, they immediately handed me the required blood for transfusion. institutions: an old age home and three schools. Several and organized donations for children in need. The Nicaragua team
teams established internet connectivity in the former, went to a partner orphanage and conducted learning activities,
Within minutes, we were ready for the procedure.
then taught IT and held feeding programs to school repaired computers, participated in a cleanup drive, and rehabili-
Even though we had family members and friends who were willing to help, looking for donor blood has been children. They also took part in street cleaning as part tated the orphanage’s playground.
excruciating. SPi Global’s CSR blood drive made our situation a lot less heavy to bear and gave us peace of mind. of the company’s environmental initiatives.
It is a huge relief to know that we can always run to Red Cross for emergencies through SPi Global’s efforts, and Around the globe, employee volunteers happily work for a noble
it made me realize how valuable donating blood can be. It saves people’s lives, even those we do not know. In the Philippines, SPi Global helped install computer cause, lending a helping hand and bringing joy and happiness to
libraries and inked partnerships in building smart class- those in need - all beyond the call of duty. It is in this true spirit
My father-in-law got better and recovered from the bleeding in his stomach. Although we only had a few more rooms and with the aim of introducing and promoting of volunteerism that employees commit to continuously reach
weeks before he passed on, we were able to spend precious moments with him that we will forever remember, IT to schools and partner organizations. Volunteers also out to less privileged, raise awareness on their plight, and work

thanks to the volunteer donors of SPi Global’s blood donation drive. conducted cleanup drives in select sites. for the greater good, one community at a time.