December Impact 2014

IMPACT DECEMBER 2014

INVESTING IN PEOPLE

UNBOUND ALUMNI WANT TO PAY IT FORWARD A desire to give back fuels alumni of Unbound programs in the Philippines. In separate interviews this year, four young adults — Abrel, Jennibeth, Cieleto and Romeo — talked about how their experiences in the Unbound sponsorship and scholarship programs shaped their lives. The four are college graduates and participants in alumni groups from the Quezon and Antipolo programs.

G

rowing up, Abrel hoped for a better future for himself and his family.

As an Unbound scholarship student from 2000 to 2005, Abrel found not only financial

“When I said ‘better future,’ I always

help but “the tools to grow” in the program

thought of money,” Abrel said. “But through

and its community service component. He

time my thinking has changed. It is beyond

also found camaraderie through activities

money, fortune or wealth because I realized

such as the annual Christmas parties.

that those weren’t always the great factors that define success and happiness.

“I found this memorable because these were the times that scholars in different

“It is the character, the manner, the attitude

places gathered to inspire one another, show-

and the heart to extend help to the most needy

case their individual talents, forget the pres-

people and be an instrument of inspiration for

sures of school and just enjoy the moment of (continued)

them to see light and hope beyond hardships.”

Abrel at work as a designer and drafter.

HOST UNBOUND IN YOUR COMMUNITY

REDUCE YOUR TAXES BY HELPING UNBOUND

2015 is just around the corner, and we want to help even more people

You can fund higher education while reducing your income taxes for

around the world break the bonds of poverty in the coming year. But

the current year. Year-end donations can be made with cash, stocks,

we need your help. You can help spread the word about Unbound

bonds and mutual funds or retirement plan assets. Contact Michael

and how people can join us in the fight against poverty by hosting an

Calabria at (800) 875-6564 or giftplanning@unbound.org to learn

information table in your community. Contact our Outreach team at

more about year-end giving to support Education.

(800) 875-6564 or outreach@unbound.org to learn more.

OUTCOMES SHOW

U

QUEZON

MANILA

‘best of what sponsored young people can achieve’ nbound has implemented various methods to measure and

ANTIPOLO

evaluate programs, their impact and how they can improve. The results are encouraging.

WORK ETHIC AND A MORAL COMPASS: Participants felt

Evaluation specialists Melissa Velazquez and Becky Spachek

conducted Ripple-Effect Mapping with more than 80 program alumni

strongly that their success so far in life is tied to what they learned in the

in the Metro Manila area of the Philippines. REM is a participatory and

program. The skill and talent development plus the nature of a program

qualitative evaluation method used to learn the intended and unintend-

that requires beneficiaries to participate created a sense of confidence

ed results of the program.

and responsibility, while also encouraging character and accountability.

“There are many ways that we see sponsorship supports children and

Participants reported they have the tools to handle personal and ethical challenges in the workplace.

families living in poverty during their time in the program,” Velazquez

LEADERSHIP, SENSE OF SERVICE AND CONFIDENCE: Alumni

said. “But we wanted to take a long view. We wanted to hear from program alumni three, five or 10 years out of the program, how their lives

reported the ability to work with diverse groups, resolve conflicts and

continue to experience sponsorship’s impact.”

demonstrate responsibility as a result of their time at Unbound. Many

EDUCATION: Opportunity for education was the most widely iden-

described the concept of giving back to community outside of family as

tified and the most far-reaching outcome cited by alumni of Unbound’s

something they learned through the program. Participants reported em-

Quezon and Antipolo programs. Former participants reported feeling

ployment in a variety of careers with many securing full-time, salaried jobs.

“We are excited about the outcomes we saw in the Philippines,”

that a good education gave them something of value that could not be taken away, and led to job opportunities and the ability to provide for

Spachek said. “They demonstrate the best of what sponsored young

themselves and their families.

people can achieve with Unbound.”

Opportunities allow alumni to help their families, others (continued from front)

brother to school and help other relatives.

togetherness,” Abrel said. “I thought that it

But she doesn’t want to stop there.

was always a celebration of hope and success in each of us.”

neighborhood learn computer skills.

Like Cieleto, Romeo is on his way to

“One of my dreams is to become part

achieving his goals. He was sponsored

of Unbound by sponsoring a child, youth

through Unbound for 13 years and partici-

Abrel earned a degree in architecture

or aging,” Jennibeth said. “This truly

pated in the scholarship program for five

and has held various jobs in the field,

became part of my dreams since I was in

years. He worked in a call center and later

including working as a designer and drafter

the program.”

went on to get a job in the banking industry.

for a company in Singapore.

Cieleto’s childhood dream was to be a

With the opportunities he received

These opportunities have allowed Abrel

priest. But his father died when he was a

combined with hard work and planning,

to help his family, and someday he hopes

young boy, and when he got older he had

Romeo has been able to give his parents a

to extend his support by sponsoring a child.

to help his mother take care of their family.

more comfortable life living with him. His

For Jennibeth, being part of Unbound

“That’s why I decided to pursue my stud-

advice to other young people is to live with

gave her confidence and the motivation

ies in computer technology and eventually

to study hard. She was sponsored in the

be a teacher someday,” he said.

fourth grade and received an Unbound

“You must do what it takes to reach your

Being sponsored for 14 years helped earn

a

computer

gratitude and purpose.

scholarship for college. The opportunities

Cieleto

helped her attain her goal to become a

degree. He has a passion for teaching

technology

nurse and work in a hospital.

dreams, but you must remember to stay humble, be goal-oriented. Consider the people around you,” Romeo said.

youth about computers and recently went

“Always look back from where you have

Jennibeth is married now and out on

back to school to study for a teaching cer-

been and learn to share other things that

her own. She was able to send her younger

tificate. He has also helped youth in his

you can.”

Jennibeth visits the Unbound office in Quezon City.

Cieleto (right) and his mother at their home.

1 ELMWOOD AVENUE, KANSAS CITY, KS 66103

800.875.6564

MAIL@UNBOUND.ORG

Romeo enjoys some free time in Manila.

UNBOUND.ORG

©UNBOUND 2014