What’s in a shoebox?

My Dream in a Shoebox brings the spirit of Christmas to kids in Payatas

Payatas is no place for a kid. The stench of rotting garbage permeates the air; it is so thick that you feel it envelop every part of your being. With endless shanties lining its skyline, this place is synonymous with poverty and neglect.

But in all that it is, Christine Joy and her friends call Payatas home.

Christine Joy is eight years old, thin and frail for her age. She has a shy smile that reflects the innocence of youth, afflicted by poverty but somehow detached from its reality. Her father works in a factory for plastic chairs. When asked where her Mom was, she quickly answers that her mother works in Dubai. Her grandmother quickly clarifies, “Limang taon na pong ‘di nagpapadala yung nanay niya, wala na siya, iniwan na sila.” This is a sad but common situation for the Filipino diaspora.

But none of this matters today. Joy knows that today is special. Her ensemble was her Sunday’s best, and her eyes couldn’t contain the excitement building in her.

She prepared well for the gift-giving day of My Dream in a Shoebox — a Christmas project spearheaded by TeamAsia, an integrated marketing communications agency, and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) — held last December 11 in the Mother of Divine Providence Parish in Payatas, Quezon City.

Christine Joy couldn’t wait for one thing — the gifts, of course. Together with 500 kids under the auspices of the Payatas Orione Foundation, Christine Joy had been anticipating the moment she’d receive an ornately wrapped shoebox bearing gifts.

Christine Joy ran to grandmother upon receiving her gift, quickly and unceremoniously unwrapping the box, squealing with delight upon seeing paper, crayons, pens, and pencils. Her eyes focused on each item, her face reflecting the immense excitement of receiving a gift.

“Maraming salamat po! May crayons na ako,” she exclaimed.

Making Bigger Dreams come true

For seven years My Dream in a Shoebox has been helping thousands of underprivileged kids around the Philippines achieve greater goals and dream bigger dreams by providing them with shoeboxes filled with school supplies.

“Education is the primary tool against poverty. We in the IT-BPM sector believe that by investing in the youth we are investing in the future of not only this country but also of our businesses. This is our way of giving back to a country that has given so much to our sector,” said Jomari Mercado, IBPAP president.

These efforts by the private sector is not lost on Fr. Julio Cuesta of the Payatas Orione Foundation. “The families of these children do not have the money to buy school supplies for them,” Cuesta said. “What [My Dream in a Shoebox] is doing is helping these kids build their future through education.”

This year the campaign has collected more than 25,000 shoeboxes to be distributed to different parts of the country, including Quezon, Zambales, Aklan, and Cebu among others. Even before Christmas day, the project has already met its goal with the help of the campaign’s generous partners including Acquire BPO & Shore Solutions Inc., Capital One Philippines Support Services Corp. (COPSSC), Chevron, Citco International Support Services Limited Phils., Cognizant Technology Solutions Philippines, Inc., EGS, Henkel Asia Pacific Service Centre, HGS, Infosys BPO Ltd., Northern Operating Services Asia, Inc. / Northern Trust, Sitel Philippines Corporation, Startek Philippines, Synchrony Global Services Phils., Inc. VXI Global Holdings, B.V. Philippines, WiPro BPO Philippines Ltd., Inc., Dynaquest Technology Services, Inc, among many others. And as Christmas grows near, more shoeboxes are expected to arrive.

“We know that we can really make a big impact through education,” Bea Lim, managing director of TeamAsia said. “By equipping these children with pencils and crayons, we are empowering them to dream bigger and draw brighter futures for themselves and their families. ”

Drawing the future

Christine Joy explained that she did not have any pencil or paper in school and she often borrowed or asked from classmates for these things. But now with her shoebox, “Makakapag-aral na po akong mabuti kasi po may pencil na ako at papel, magdo-drawing po ako,” she said.

With her pen and paper, Christine Joy can now write her own story and with her crayons, she can make her dreams more colorful. Simple as it may seem, this shoebox opens doors to the transformative power of education, which allows children from all rungs of society to aim higher and build better foundations for their future.

To help with this year’s My Dream in a Shoebox, you may connect with Katrina Pimentel of TeamAsia at 0917 507 9379 or kepimentel@shoeboxcampaign.teamasia.com to learn more about delivery schedules and account information.

Reaching higher. Christine Joy volunteers for one of the games prepared for the My Dream in a Shoebox gift-giving day held December 11 at the Mother of Divine Providence Parish in Quezon City. My Dream in a Shoebox is a joint project of integrated marketing communications firm TeamAsia and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.

Sharing the power of a story. TeamAsia President and Founder Monette Iturralde-Hamlin shares a powerful story about the true value of love during the My Dream in a Shoebox gift-giving day held December 11 at the Mother of Divine Providence Parish in Payatas, Quezon City. TeamAsia spearheads My Dream in a Shoebox together with the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines.