WIMLER HK Launches Financial Literacy Awareness Day

WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong in cooperation with Enrich, CARD-MRI, Helpers for Domestic Helpers (HDH), SEDPI, Leadership and Social Enterprise (LSE) 12 graduates, and participants of LSE 15 and LSE 16 is organizing a Financial Literacy Awareness Day on Sunday, May 19 at Chater Road. The event is one of the activities during ALAY: A Festival for the Filipino Community, which WIMLER HK is organizing with support from CSL, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Globe.

Remittances is the most widespread and important migrant economic activity and indeed offers the dual function of livelihood survival and (possible) asset building. In spite of this huge remittance flows, it cannot be assumed that by working abroad, migrants are able to secure their financial future. In many cases, by sending remittances regularly and only for as long as they continue working abroad, migrant workers are only able to provide the basic needs of their families. This impacts their plans for return and reintegration.

By organizing the Financial Literacy Awareness Day, it is hoped that greater awareness among the Filipino migrant domestic workers on the importance of financial literacy can be generated. Information materials are available in various booths. Enrich, CARD-MRI, and HDH will inform the visitors about their various products and services as well as schedules of their training and will provide on-the-spot counseling in an interactive manner. The LSE 12 graduates will display various social enterprise business plans they developed during the course, hopefully, to generate inspiration for others. Some of these business plans are already on the implementation stage.  Meanwhile, LSE participants and graduates will share their experiences after attending financial literacy course and how it motivates them to start planning for their return.

The reactions of Filipino migrant domestic workers who attended financial literacy training in Hong Kong provide various insights. Before the start of the training, many migrant participants said that they have not even considered thinking of what to do when their contract ends nor have they even thought about reintegration. They have very little, if at all any savings, and simply continue working for as long as they can. After the training, however, they become enthusiastic and eager to learn more about personal finance.

There are about 150,000 Filipino migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong who send remittances estimated at US$420 million in 2012. According to the study conducted by WIMLER involving 300 respondents , Filipino migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong send money to their families, as often as, 11 times a year and for as low as HK$500 to as high as HK$5,000 per remittance. Three in every 10 respondents send remittances to their families in the Philippines for more than 10 years already; in effect, six of them have been doing it for more than 20 years.  Remittances, the money sent by migrants regularly to their families back home, can result to increased incomes, improved health and better education, as well as, contribute to economic development.

Medical Supplies from Portland, Oregon are big help for village health centers in Davao

Through Celeste Murphy, friend of WIMLER in Hong Kong, we came to know of  Cris Skinner, Mike and Mary Horner of Portland, Oregon , USA. Mike has been sending medical supplies to  places where they are needed most like in Haiti.  When Mike learned that Cris was going to Hong Kong  to visit her family in 2012, he requested her to take about 25 kilos of medical supplies intended for the Philippines. 

We finally met Cris in Sai Kung last September 2012. We had a good  and inspiring  talk  with Cris and she promised to send more medical supplies. As soon as she arrived in Portland,  Cris,  Mike and his wife Mary readily filled up and shipped  two balikbayan boxes  to Bansalan, Davao del Sur.  WIMLER distributed the medical supplies to three village health centers and one public provincial hospital last  December. 

We received this month  (April 2013) another two boxes from Mike, Cris and Mary.

More photos of the distribution:

Local Government officials in Tubod, Bansalan, Davao del Sur receiving the medical supplies

         This is supposed to be a village health center but no medical supplies

With the support from Wimler's friends from USA, we are trying to  improve the facilities of this health center.

The two boxes which just arrived this month

SWIFT donates 100 bags to participants of LSE training

A pleasant surprise awaited the participants of Leadership, Financial Literacy and Social Entrepreneurship last weekend. SWIFT donated 100 bags and were distributed to the great delight of the two classes (LSE 15 and LSE 16) last April 13-14.

SWIFT has been supporting the capacity building program of WIMLER Foundation in Hong Kong. An empowerment program for overseas Filipinos, the Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Training Program spearheaded by the Consortium on Migration and Development Council (MDC) was launched in Hong Kong on July 15, 2012 at the Philippine Consulate.

The LSE Program is a joint initiative of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government (ASoG) with the Overseas Filipinos Society for the Promotion of Economic Security (OFSPES), the Social Enterprises Development Partnerships Inc. (SEDPI), the Philippine Consulate General Hong Kong (SAR), the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and WIMLER HK.

Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Training Program (LSE 15 and LSE 16) starts on February 23 and 24

Enrollment starts from January 14 to February 15, 2013

An empowerment program for overseas Filipinos, the Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (LSE) Training Program spearheaded by the Consortium on Migration and Development Council (MDC) was launched in Hong Kong on July 15, 2012 at the Philippine Consulate.

The LSE Program is a joint initiative of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government (ASoG) with the Overseas Filipinos Society for the Promotion of Economic Security (OFSPES), the Social Enterprises Development Partnerships Inc. (SEDPI),  the Philippine Consulate General Hong Kong (SAR), the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). In Hong Kong, the NGO partners for LSE 12 were WIMLER Foundation HK and Project Be.

The LSE was first conducted in Rome, Italy in 2008 and has since reached out to other overseas Filipinos (OFs) in Naples, Milan, Florence and Turin. By April 2013, over 500 would have graduated from 14 batches. The LSE15 and LSE 16 in Hong Kong are following the successful LSE 12 which was the first LSE ever conducted outside Italy. The program has been further expanded to Dubai. Also launched in October 2012 was the first LSE program for the families of OFs based in the Philippines which is called the Financial Literacy, Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Training Program (FLSE).

The LSE 15 (starts February 23) and LSE 16 (starts February 24) programs cover 13 sessions each, two Saturdays or Sundays per month over a six-month period. Sessions last from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. The program covers three modules: financial literacy, leadership and social entrepreneurship. The LSE aims to develop the leadership skills and potentials among overseas Filipinos and their families, provide knowledge and skills in savings and investments and other financial matters and develop and/or enhance their entrepreneurial skills. The two courses will be coordinated in Hong Kong by WIMLER Foundation and some graduates of LSE12.

A certificate is awarded by the ASoG and other partners to trainees who attend all the sessions at a graduation ceremony at the end of the course.

Participation fee is HK$60/session or HK$ 780 for the whole course for migrant domestic workers (those who are receiving Minimum Allowable Wage - MAW - or not more than HK$ 5,000/month) and HK$120/session or HK$ 1,560 for non-migrant domestic workers payable on the following terms:

In two installments  HK$ 390/780 to be paid on or before February 23/24, 2013 and HK$ 390/780 to be paid on or before May 11/12, 2013 (Session 6). Admission to the course is on “first come, first served basis” and those who have paid full or partial payment before February 23, 2013 and met the admission requirements.

Application forms should be sent to lsehk.contact@gmail.com  Attn: Leila Rispens-Noel not later than February 15, 2013.

Payment can also be done through bank transfer to:

Account name: WIMLER FOUNDATION HONG KONG LTD.

Account Number:  801-079963-838

Bank: HSBC Hong Kong

BIC code bank (SWIFT address): HSBCHKHHHKH

Bank Address: 1 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong (SAR)

Kindly send copy of remittance slip to: lsehk.contact@gmail.com with reference number and name of sender.

Or by crossed check payable to WIMLER FOUNDATION HONG KONG LTD. and mail it to:

WIMLER FOUNDATION HONG KONG LTD.

P.O. BOX 6688

GENERAL POST OFFICE

HONG KONG 

Inquiries on the program can be obtained from the following:

(LSE HK Secretariat):

Anna Martinez:  Mobile - +852 93062105

Joey Ortega:      Mobile - + 852 6087-8000

Or per email: lsehk.contact@gmail.com Attn.: Leila Rispens-Noel

Download documents here:

Application Form

Announcement 

Brochure Saturday Class

Brochure Sunday Class

Provisional Schedule Saturday Class

Provisional Schedule Sunday Class

Articles about LSE in Hong Kong:

Ateneo, HK-based Groups to Teach Financial Literacy
50 OFWS Graduate with Ateneo Degrees
The SUN Writers Receive Award at LSE Graduation
Ateneo de Manila to Hold Classes in Hong Kong
OFWs in Hong Kong Attend Financial Literacy Training

WIMLER distributes children’s books in two schools in Mlang, North Cotabato

MLANG, NORTH COTABATO - Some schools in the Philippines have no adequate books to step up the learning process of the children like in the case of Mlang Pilot Elementary School and Dugong Elementary School. Both schools are located in Mlang, North Cotabato on the southern island of Mindanao.  In fact, the school in Dugong has no library at all while the books at  the Pilot School are inadequate and mostly antiquated.

Thanks to the ten boxes of books donated by the World Bank Family Network which was facilitated by Evelyn Laguidao of Washington, D.C. and the three boxes from various donors in Hong Kong collected by Emilie Veringa from Quarry Bay School, Celeste Murphy from her friends in Sai Kung, and SWIFT APAC, the children in these two schools finally have access to books. Afreight sponsored the shipment of two boxes from Hong Kong. The distribution of the books was spearheaded by WIMLER Philippines, the sister foundation of WIMLER HK. All the people who help out with the distribution are all WIMLER volunteers.

Leila Rispens-Noel and Luz Tan of WIMLER HK, Melot Balisalisa, Alpha Lajato, Ana Marie Noel of WIMLER Philippines, school principals, school district supervisor, Roger Cordero Mlang Municipal Administrator, Mr. Cyrel Defensor, teachers, parents, and WIMLER scholars of the two schools attended the two separate turn-over ceremonies which were held last December 17.

“WIMLER hopes that through these books, the disadvantaged pupils would be able to widen their skills and knowledge. With these books, the children are encouraged to read which is important in improving their literacy skills.” said Leila Rispens-Noel, director and co-founder of WIMLER Foundation Hong Kong.

WIMLER Foundation HK’s objective of this activity is to equip the schools whose pupils are mostly from low-income groups to fortify their libraries. Parents of these pupils hardly earn US$ 2.00 a day that buying books is a real luxury. Thirty-five pupils in Dugong Elementary School and forty pupils in Mlang Pilot Elementary School are recipients of educational support of Send a Child to School project of WIMLER and hopes that through the books donation, other children can also be served.

In return, Mlang Pilot Elementary School awarded WIMLER Philippines and WIMLER HK with certificates of appreciation for their contribution to improve the learning process of the pupils.

WIMLER will continue with its book drive to reach more disadvantaged children in other places. For more information and if you have new or gently-used books to donate, please contact: emilie.veringa@wimler.org.

For complete photo coverage please click OUR PHOTO ALBUM

Just Released: WIMLER REACH OUT Newsletter, Issue 4, Vol 2

Reach Out Newsletter, Issue No. 4, Vol 2

BREAKING NEWS: Wimler HK and INTEMPORELLE Switzerland sign partnership agreement to promote development

WIMLER HK and INTEMPORELLE Switzerland signed a partnership agreement to promote  sustainable development as a way of giving back to the community. The signing of partnership agreement took place last November 7 at the Marriott Hotel lobby lounge in Hong Kong. Mr. Kevin Rey, Chief Operating Manager of INTEMPORELLE Switzerland and Mr. Floyd Lau, chairperson and director of WIMLER Foundation HK signed the agreement in the presence of Leila Rispens-Noel (director and co-founder), Emilie Veringa (director and co-founder), Luz Tan (Press Relations Officer) and Marie Medura Touhy (Friend of WIMLER).

INTEMPORELLE Switzerland, a premium Swiss Skin-Care Brand offers the finest products which nourish, protect and rejuvenate skin; indispensable to most vital daily skincare rituals.  Its Swiss laboratories have blended precise, scientifically proven bio-engineering technology with nature's best restorative plant extracts, poly-vitamin complex, precious glycoproteins and minerals. The result is a highly evolved, scientifically formulated skin care system that protects and promotes beautiful skin.

10% of every purchase of Timeless Radiance Day & Night Cream will be donated to WIMLER HK and you will receive two gifts with purchase

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“We at INTEMPORELLE are excited about this partnership, sharing our mission and vision and being able to give back to the community is the foundation of INTEMPORELLE,” Rey said during the signing of the contract.  In United States, INTEMPORELLE already supports Sunrise Community, a non-profit organization which provides     programs and services to physically challenged people.

“WIMLER Foundation HK encourages companies to embrace CSR as it firmly believes that business companies have an important role to play in poverty alleviation and to improve the quality of life people.  We are extremely pleased with this partnership because we put into practice our shared values,” Lau responded. 

For more information about INTEMPORELLE Switzerland, please visit:  www.intemporellegroup.com