ASKI Foundation, Inc

ASKI’s outreach and ministry started almost simultaneously with the ASKI Microfinance. To institutionalize its initiatives focusing on reaching out to different communities, ASKI Foundation, Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of ASKI Group of Companies, Inc., was registered with Securities and Exchange Commision(SEC) in 2008.

The Foundation has been carrying out programs on education, health, environment and community development. Congruent to ASKI Group’s commitment to UN SDGs, the Foundation corresponds mainly to Goals (1) No Poverty, (2) Zero Hunger, (3) Good Health and Well-being, (5) Gender Equality, (6) Clean Water, (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth and (13) Climate Action.

The program LIFE or Livelihood for the Extreme Poor reached out to 810 family households providing livelihood opportunities, technical skills and education and capacity building interventions. With their new knowledge and more importantly, new sources of income, LIFE has helped the beneficiaries improve their lives. The program also gave empowerment mostly to mothers as they are the primary recipients of these opportunities.

LIFE program also includes Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program. Under the WASH Program, the project was able to build toilets, improve water source and develop water system in all LIFE areas. Similarly, the WASH program is also being carried out to selected communities of the Community Impact Fund (CIF) Project. The project has served 169 households in terms of getting access to water source through water system project and toilet facilities to promote sanitation and hygiene. Last year, the organization inaugurated a water system for the residents and students of Dona Josefa, Palayan City. The water system that was rehabilitated in San Isidro, Laur prior to last year was also expanded to benefit more individuals. The CIF project also provided livelihood opportunities to its participants such as tailoring, hog raising and mushroom production, among others. The livelihoods provided by LIFE and CIF Project can relate to the attainment of providing decent work and to the economic growth. Related to this is the Men At Work Program of the organization in partnership with Wholistic Transformation Resource Center(WTRC) which helped unemployed men especially heads of different families. Last year, 100 students graduated from Shield Metal Arc Welding, Heavy Equipment Operation, Electrical Wirings and Automotive. Cumulatively, ASKI Foundation was able to assist 160 men beneficiaries to be equipped with technical-vocational courses through TESDA and facilitate their employment.

To further support the UN’s Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, the organization continued with its health programs conducting free cleft lip and palate surgery, medical mission for children and provision of vitamins. The surgical mission in partnership with Smile Asia benefitted 42 individuals while the medical mission served 150 children. The Foundation, in partnership with Vitamin Angel, distributed Vitamin A, 100,000 IU, Vitamin A, 200,000 IU and Albendazole to the municipalities of Talugtug, Guimba and Talavera. ASKI Foundation remain committed in aggressively giving its share to environmental preservation and disaster response and resiliency. In 2019, a total of 1,800 trees were planted to support the environmental conservation initiatives of the organization in partnership with various sectors such as LGUs and other institutions. The Foundation also conducted disaster orientations and relief efforts providing cash assistance to 391 households and to 54 staff who were hit by damaging typhoons during the year.

In 2020, ASKI Foundation plans to further strengthen its network with existing partners and mainstream its program and services to create more partnership with various stakeholders such local government units, private institution and fellow NGOs. Through this, the Foundation will be able to sustain and expand its outreach to marginalized sector and help uplift their lives.

mEN AT WORK program

To promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all through the Men at Work (MAW) Program is the core objective of the partnership of ASKI with Wholistic Transformation Resource Center(WTRC) which started in 2016. ASKI and WTRC made a bold move of developing an outreach program for Men, a new sector since many of the outreach programs are for women and children. One of the unique components of this program is its holistic approach to transformation.

Program Highlights of Accomplishment (Phase II):

1. Total of 160 men beneficiaries were reached and equipped with skills on TESDA National Certification courses such as welding, driving, heavy equipment operation, automotive, electrical installation and maintenance and microfinance technology. 2. Beneficiaries were trained on leadership and organizational development for MAW’s People Organization. 3. Employment rate is 73% for Phase 1 graduates and 50% for

Phase 2 graduates. 4. Beneficiaries were given employment assistance such as financial assistance for their employment requirements, food and transportation during job application, career orientation and on-the-job trainings. 5. 30 Beneficiaries were provided with equipment and tools to start their own micro-enterprise or service business. 11 beneficiaries have their own micro-enterprise. Men at Work Program Phase III will be rolled out to other communities in Nueva Ecija. 100 new men beneficiaries (head of the family or out-of-school youths) will be selected from 10 target communities with poor households and high unemployment rate. The MAW Phase III is preparation for the sustainability of the

program and establishment of the Men at Work Cooperative.

MAW Coop main purpose are the following:

1. Help its members to market their skills to get employment or contract services / projects from individuals, companies or government agencies. 2. Access government programs and services beneficial for the men-members such as technical and livelihood trainings and provision of equipment. 3. Provide scholarships to deserving men members to add or upgrade their skills Aside from getting employment for the MAW members, the coop shall help them in contracting their services to individuals, companies or government agencies, services such as building wiring, plumbing, welding, complete construction of house, etc. Purchasing of materials or needed tools for the projects shall be made at the MAW Coop Store, We are eyeing that the coop store will soon have its own hardware store. As mandated by Cooperative Development Authority, the Coop will allocate 10% its net surplus for education and training fund. This shall be used for the scholarship of men beneficiaries for their additional or upgrading of skills. In order to sustain the MAW Project, ASKI plans to establish a TESDA-accredited training center for men. The MAW training center will accept paying students to be profitable and to fund the succeeding phases of Men at Work project in Nueva Ecija. ASKI and WTRC is also exploring the idea of establishing a new non-stock, non-profit organization which will be named ASKI Wholistic Development Center, Inc. (AWDC). This new corporation will have both ASKI and WTRC as incorporators, with the mission of delivering the integrated development programs of both institutions – Men at Work, Water Hope, ASKI School of Knowledge, Housing, Water and Sanitation and Spiritual Development Programs.