Together with their respective CSR arms – East-West Seed Foundation (EWSF) and SM Cares Program, school communities were invited to a day full of healthy and nutritious vegetable-related activities
24 October 2014, Bulacan – Yesterday, PWD was given a whole new meaning, as East-West Seed Philippines (EWPH) and SM City Baliwag held a series of activities for students with special needs and teachers aimed at promoting vegetable farming and increase in vegetable consumption.
With the theme, People with Dreams, People with Desire, EWPH and SM once again proved that vegetable planting is an activity everyone can and should take part in. Participants include PWDs from AKAPIN Learning Centers in San Jose del Monte, Sta. Maria and Bulacan, Bulacan; City of Malolos Integrated School and DepEd Teachers from Caingin Elementary School, Norzagaray High School and Ulingao Elementary School.
East-West Seed Foundation Program Director, Mr Jose Victor Y. Navarro, said in his opening remarks, “When we were planning this PWD activity, the message that we ultimately wanted to convey is that there should be no reason that our PWD brothers, sisters and kids should not dream for something past their disability. We look forward to sharing what the company does best, which so to plant vegetables and impart something we should all consider – to plant what we eat.”
The day kicked-off with a short exercise to warm up the mood and break the ice. It was then followed by a lecture and hands-on demo on soil and seedling preparations by EWPH Farm-Ready. Next was the actual transplanting and watering, which was actively participated by the both the PWD students and teachers. Furthermore, EWPH and SM prepared indoor activities like Yoga, Urban Gardening led by EWSF, and vegetable cooking demo and contest for the teachers.
Ms Rodora S. Tolentino, Assistant Mall Manager at SM City Baliwag, ecstatically shared, “We are very happy and thankful to East-West Seed Philippines, with the guidance of East-West Seed Foundation and SM Cares Program, as without them this project will not be possible. We at SM Disability Affairs are very proud that we are gathered here to change the definition of PWD and prove that disabilities should not limit nor hinder anyone from living normally and contributing to the society.”
People with Dreams, People with Desire is the third activity of the EWPH-SM Greening Project, since the partnership was established in July of this year. The Vegetable Garden is located at the back of SM City Baliwag and is open for everyone to visit.
Comments