Page 37 - SPiCE Magazine (September 2019)

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36 The SPiCE Magazine • The Best of SPi Global: Going Strong @ 40The Best of SPi Global: Going Strong @ 40 The SPiCE Magazine • The Best of SPi Global: Going Strong @ 40The Best of SPi Global: Going Strong @ 40 37
Beyond the Call of Duty

By Genesis Dimatulac, Wiley Copyediting, Dumaguete By Genesis Dimatulac, Wiley Copyediting, Dumaguete

Lack of access to basic needs continues to affect
those who live in poverty. As well, the irrefutable
By Maria Elizabeth Leva, AM, Quality, Dumaguete
effects of climate change threaten and compound
the hardships 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 pro-
grams with the promise of making them more
sustainable and more impactful. With the primary
aim of promoting youth welfare and education,
employee volunteers across all offices set out to
penetrate marginalized communities and intro-
duce information technology to children and adults “You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” This thought kept replaying in my mind as
alike, implement feeding programs and other
my husband and I scrambled for contacts who can immediate supply us with three bags of B+ blood. My father-
health-related initiatives, and spearhead clean-up
in-law has been suffering from internal bleeding caused by liver cirrhosis for more than 12 hours. He could go
drives and various environmental conservation
into shock from blood loss. We needed blood donations fast, lest we lose him. I never imagined being in this
and preservation activities.
situation. Often, we express our concern and sympathy for friends and acquaintances who are desperately look-

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

SPi Global Vietnam reached out to four beneficiary donated electronic equipment to a partner school and shared Our angel came in the form of SPi Global’s CSR blood drive.
institutions: an old age home and three schools. their IT skills. Meanwhile, volunteers from SPi Global Maine
Several teams established internet connectivity in collected and organized donations for children in need. The After I informed Red Cross personnel that I am from SPi Global and that the blood will be replenished by the
the former, then taught IT and held feeding pro- Nicaragua team went to a partner orphanage and conducted incoming second run of this year’s blood drive, they immediately handed me the required blood for transfusion.
grams to school children. They also took part in learning activities, repaired computers, participated in a Within minutes, we were ready for the procedure.
street cleaning as part of the company’s environ- cleanup drive, and rehabilitated the orphanage’s playground.
mental initiatives. Even though we had family members and friends who were willing to help, looking for donor blood has been
Around the globe, employee volunteers happily work for a excruciating. SPi Global’s CSR blood drive made our situation a lot less heavy to bear and gave us peace of mind.

In the Philippines, SPi Global helped install com- noble cause, lending a helping hand and bringing joy and It is a huge relief to know that we can always run to Red Cross for emergencies through SPi Global’s efforts, and
puter libraries and inked partnerships in building happiness to those in need - all beyond the call of duty. It it made me realize how valuable donating blood can be. It saves people’s lives, even those we do not know.
smart classrooms and with the aim of introducing is in this true spirit of volunteerism that employees commit
and promoting IT to schools and partner organiza- to continuously reach out to less privileged, raise awareness My father-in-law got better and recovered from the bleeding in his stomach. Although we only had a few more
tions. Volunteers also conducted cleanup drives in on their plight, and work for the greater good, one community weeks before he passed on, we were able to spend precious moments with him that we will forever remember,
select sites. at a time. thanks to the volunteer donors of SPi Global’s blood donation drive.