Converge and Caritas Manila's Unang Yakap: Building Healthier Communities in 2024

Converge and Caritas Manila worked together to build an Unang Yakap community in Baseco, Tondo, Manila. Using the funds generated from the company’s silent auction, Converge has taken 14 pregnant and breastfeeding moms under its care to help provide their nutritional and medical needs in the next 1000 days.

Beyond empowering the country through fiber broadband services, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has also been bringing new life into communities in line with its commitments in the name of sustainability.

With one of its pledges anchored on creating positive community impact, Converge collaborates with organizations in different sectors, leveraging its capabilities, to create more opportunities for Filipinos to thrive.

The welfare and development arm of the country’s Catholic Church, Caritas Manila, bears witness to the company’s efforts in this regard. Since 2023, they have worked with Converge to lend helping hands to underprivileged mothers under its program called Unang Yakap. 

The initiative was established to provide nutritional assistance to pregnant and breastfeeding moms, as well as their infants, from birth through the next 1000 days – a critical period for a child’s growth and development. 

Participating in this initiative contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), ensuring a healthier and hunger-free world for all.

Converge leaders and employees worked together to prepare meals for the beneficiaries during the launch of the Unang Yakap community in Baseco.

Establishing an Unang Yakap Community

Taking its Unang Yakap efforts further, Converge completed a series of initiatives to continue supporting the program throughout 2024. Taking off from the celebration of Mother’s Day last year, Converge hosted a fundraiser with the help from the senior leaders under its women mentorship program, Grace Under Pressure: MentorSHE. 

Several leaders, led by Converge President and Co-Founder Grace Uy, donated pre-loved items which were sold in a silent auction within the company. Nearly 100 high-grade, secondhand goods were collected and auctioned off, which generated over P100,000 worth of donations by the end of the exhibition sale. 

The funds raised allowed Converge to formally sponsor 14 women in Baseco, Tondo, and assist Caritas Manila to officially establish an Unang Yakap community in the area.

As a benefactor of these women, Converge supports the continuity of their nutritional and medical needs. Every day, Caritas Manila organizes feeding programs in the community, providing these women with nutritious meals and vitamins. They also receive regular check-ups and free laboratory tests and are engaged in various educational seminars such as proper taking care of their babies. 

“Sobrang nakakatulong sa amin lalo na walang trabaho ‘yung mister ko. Nakakatulong po ‘yung feeding sa amin sa araw-araw lalo na sa mga bata. Pagdating sa kalusugan, nakakapagpa-konsulta kami sa doktor at may mga laboratory test din na libre,” said Michelle, one of the beneficiaries of the program.

Additionally, Converge introduced new income streams for these mothers, as it also previously conducted training on social media and sales. Through its prepaid broadband brand Surf2Sawa (S2S), Converge explained how they could earn extra income as sales agents or resellers of top-up load to subscribers. 

Sharing Warmth through Giving

Converge made sure to spread joy and love with the community. They invited all the volunteers, recipients, and their children for a fun-filled gift-giving event last December. 

During the recent holiday season, Converge also didn't fail to spread some joy and love to the members of the community. Inviting all the volunteers, recipients, and their kids to a day of celebration, Converge hosted a fun-filled, gift-giving activity for them.

A handful of mentors and mentees from MentorSHE joined in the fun, getting together with the mothers and their little ones through dance, games, and raffle prizes. No one went home empty-handed as everyone received Noche Buena packages from the company.

Michelle and Joan, Unang Yakap beneficiaries of Converge in Baseco, Tondo.

“Masaya kami kasi may natanggap kaming biyaya at may nag-share ng blessings sa amin,” shared Joan, one of Baseco’s Unang Yakap beneficiaries. 

 “Natutuwa kami na bilang lider sa Converge, nakakatulong din kami sa kababaihan sa Baseco lalo na sa pag-nourish sa kanilang mga anak. Tuloy-tuloy ang programa na ito at sana marami pa kaming matulungang mga nanay sa Tondo,” said Converge VP and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Jay-Anne Encarnado, who is also takes part in MentorSHE as a mentor.

With renewed hope and a stronger sense of community, the mothers left the celebration not only with gifts but also with the hope of a better future, knowing that despite financial barriers, good health and well-being is within reach with the aid of organizations that truly care.

Converge Empowers Marginalized Communities with Prepaid Broadband and Income Opportunities

Converge hosted a sales agent training for stay-at-home moms in Tondo, Manila, introducing its prepaid fiber broadband brand Surf2Sawa.

Empowering communities beyond connecting high-speed fiber broadband internet, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. continues to open income opportunities for under-resourced families as it conducted a sales agent training session in Tondo, Manila featuring its prepaid fiber broadband solution Surf2Sawa (S2S).

With the support of its S2S partner JK2L2 Inc., Converge trained housewives and moms from Baseco Compound on the know-how of operating as home-based sales agents.

The participants were also shown how to effectively use social media to boost their earning capabilities, as well as some practical tips to protect themselves against online scams, such as phishing.

"This livelihood training allows us to take tangible steps towards fostering sustainable development in communities where opportunities may be limited," said Converge President and Co-Founder Maria Grace Uy.

"We recognize the reality among mothers that they find it hard to look for streams of income because of their duties at home. But with the help of the internet and social media, earning from home is now achievable which we hope we are able to impart through this S2S training session,” she added.

Creating equitable and accessible opportunities for all, the initiative was part of the company's broader sustainability commitment to driving positive impact to the communities it serves.

IN PHOTO: JK2L2 Inc. Sales Support Head Yuan Malinawan

"Unlike typical CSR initiatives that offer one-time relief, we see to it that our approach to community development is always towards addressing challenges in the long-term, in ways that leverage our capabilities as a business. For us, making a difference in the lives of others is what it means to be a responsible business, and we do that particularly for those who have been left behind in terms of economic progress,” said Converge Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer Benjamin Azada.

He also underscored that aside from offering income prospects to disadvantaged communities, the project also contributes to the company’s pledge of bridging the digital divide as it enhances their penetration into dense urban populations.

S2S employs a community-based business model where retailers and sales agents sell directly to customers within their own neighborhoods.

Moving forward, the newly trained participants, after officially signing up to be S2S partners, will work primarily within their community, aiding Converge to reach more households who might otherwise be underserved.

Recently, Converge joined hands with Caritas Manila to formally launch its Unang Yakap community at Baseco.

The project intends to support underprivileged pregnant and lactating moms with sustainable healthcare and nutritional assistance for the next six months.