World Vision, ArdentComm Partner to Boost Advocacy for Children Amid the Pandemic

World Vision and Ardent Communications, Inc. have been working together to increase awareness about the plight of Filipino children and inspire more people to join efforts to address their situation.

COVID-19 has made many children across the country, which have been suffering from poverty and abuse even before the pandemic, even more vulnerable. World Vision, a global child-focused humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the well-being of children, assessed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Filipino families last year and released an article on Filipinos’ top concerns amid the pandemic, identifying areas that needed immediate attention and response. The data formed part of the basis of the organization’s strategic humanitarian plan for children and their families to provide appropriate  assistance.

Realizing the need to communicate these concerns to the public with more urgency, World Vision in the Philippines collaborated with ArdentComm to increase awareness and encourage the public to be more involved in these alarming societal concerns. The partnership allowed World Vision not just to boost awareness on its advocacies but also to educate more people about the plight of children and encourage them to donate to the organization’s initiatives.

To effectively mobilize people toward the goal of making the world a better and safer place for children, World Vision believes communication is key to making people understand not just the situation children face but also the current initiatives and programs being done to help these children. In support of World Vision’s advocacy, ArdentComm helped disseminate information and promote the organization’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives through relevant publications and channels.

“We are honored to be working with World Vision to raise awareness on the pressing issues children face. As a company in the business of communication, we understand how important it is to get the right message across in order to spur people into action. Through this partnership, we hope to be able to contribute to getting people involved and helping more to improve the conditions of our children,” said ArdentComm Founder and CEO Ana Pista.

World Vision’s CSR efforts also include disaster relief to provide assistance not just to children but their families as well. In partnership with the United Nations Population Fund in the Philippines (UNFPA), World Vision provided 1,400 maternity and dignity kits to pregnant and lactating women and women with disabilities following the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly. The organization also granted assistance and protective aid against COVID-19 to about 13,500 families in Marawi City last year as part of the health response launched in partnership with KOICA.

World Vision donated learning materials through Abutin Na10, the organization’s ongoing fundraising initiative in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). The initiative communicated the need to prioritize children’s education amid the pandemic by providing them with resources for distance learning.

Aside from its CSR initiatives, World Vision regularly holds the CSR Summit, where select speakers are invited to talk about relevant issues surrounding children and the poor. This year’s summit, which was held in Cebu on March 23 and Davao on May 25, discussed how local government units (LGUs) can aid their constituents, in particular the poor and vulnerable, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has greatly affected the lives of many Filipino children, and it is our prayer that more people are made aware of these issues. Thanks to the widespread coverage of our advocacies and CSR initiatives, we have been experiencing an outpour of support both from individuals and organizations,” shared World Vision National Director Rommel Fuerte.

“We’re grateful to have partnered with ArdentComm, which has been helping us tell our stories, and in so doing reach more people and do more for Filipinos who need our help,” he added.

Experience Tokyo 2020 with Airbnb Online Experiences Hosted by Olympians, Paralympians and Japanese volunteers

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Filipino sports enthusiasts and Olympics fans alike now have the chance to experience the thrill and excitement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games from the comfort of home. This is thanks to a new series of Airbnb Online Experiences hosted by athletes and local Games volunteers.

Airbnb, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are bringing people closer than ever to the magic of Tokyo 2020 with a special program taking place during the Games of more than 200 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences, only on Airbnb. Hosted by both competing and retired sporting heroes, these one-of-a-kind experiences allow athletes to share their passion with guests who can connect with them directly during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Filipinos who live and breathe the basketball game can relive personal Olympic stories with basketball legends Scottie Pippen and Larry Bird. Sports fans can also explore a variety of Online Experiences where they can learn different dynamic drills from runner and eight-time Paralympic medalist Blake Leeper, experience a post-Games debrief with Olympic triathlon silver medalist Jonny Brownlee, gain exclusive access to never-before-seen people, places and stories with Tongan flag bearer and UNICEF ambassador Pita Taufatofua and chat with Syrian Olympic swimmer and UNHCR goodwill ambassador Yusra Mardini about the power of resilience and embracing one’s own identity. To view the full lineup, visit www.airbnb.com/olympics.

Airbnb partners with Nippon Foundation Volunteer Support Center

In addition, Airbnb has partnered with the Nippon Foundation Volunteer Support Center to give guests insights into the venues, cultures and histories of the cities behind this year’s Games and inspire future  travel to Japan. Through a series of 20 free Online Experiences hosted by 89 local volunteers, Filipino Olympics fans can experience the Olympic spirit  in a truly memorable way. These unique and authentic experiences will be offered at zero cost on a first-come-first-serve basis.

From a virtual tour of the major Tokyo 2020 stadiums to a river cruise ride along the Tokyo waterfront and a night walk at the magnificent Yokohama Bay area, guests will now have the chance to uniquely experience how cities across the country are playing host to the Games.