What is Children's Hour?
Children's Hour is a simple but effective way to help others. As a non-profit organization, we
raise funds mainly by asking individuals and companies to donate at least one hour of their
earnings to projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged Filipino children.
Why is it important?
It matters to children because they don't have what they need to lead empowered and
dignified lives. And it matters to donors because they do. Anyone with ONE HOUR of earnings
is in a position to help disadvantaged kids.
Consider the statistics:
- Of the 88.6 million Filipinos, approximately 38.7 million are children and 15.8 million
belong to poor families (National Statistical Coordination Board, March 2008)
- For SY 2008-09, 12.8 million students enrolled in elementary and 5.3 million in
secondary level. This is only 85% of children who should be enrolled in elementary level
and only 61% of children who should be enrolled in secondary level. (Department of
Education)
- Only 75 in every 100 grade 1 students reach Grade 6, and only 80 in every 100 first year
high school students reach fourth year. Measurement of learning outcomes resulted to
only 60% in grade 6 and only 47% in fourth year high school. (National Statistical
Coordination Board , 2007 MDG tracking data)
Consider what we can do:
- If all 33 million employees in the country give an hour's minimum wage, or at least P30,
the resulting amount would be over a billion Pesos. But even if only a miniscule .05%
gives P30 each, that's still a whopping P66M!
- In one of our projects, a learning community of 40 schools costs just a little over P1M.
Each school benefits at least 2,000 children. The P66M would be more than enough to
fund hundreds of learning communities, and benefit thousands of children over a
number of years.
While we may not have created the problem, neither did the children. Can we really bear to
stand by and watch? We can be part of the solution. All it would take is ONE HOUR.
What are its objectives?
- To help disadvantaged Filipino children by funding projects that improve their welfare,
particularly in the area of education.
- To develop philanthropic and social responsibility among organizations, companies and
individuals by providing CHPI as an avenue and resource for their CSR
- Starting in July 2009, CHPI also aims to help secure an environmentally better future for
children by promoting environmental consciousness, incorporating it in our projects,
and partnering with organizations that advance the cause.
Where did the idea come from?
How did it start in the Philippines?
It all began in the United Kingdom as "Children's Promise," a fundraising campaign led by Prime
Minister Tony Blair, Sir Richard Greenbury of Marks & Spencer, and the New Millennium
Experience Company. The idea grew and went global, with the US-based International Youth
Foundation becoming the lead.
The year was 1999, and along with fears of Y2K and frenzy over the new millennium, there was
also a strong universal last-minute drive to live the dwindling 90's with purpose. The Philippines
was no exception. Top businessman and IYF member, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, brought
the campaign here. And thus, Children's Hour Philippines was born.
Other socially committed entrepreneurs and civic leaders joined him, forming a dynamic
steering committee that oversaw a four-month campaign. By the new millennium, some 83,112
individuals and 391 companies nationwide had responded, raising over P 30 million, and
benefiting 23 charities. So many in the Philippines devoted the last working hour of the
millennium to the campaign that it ranked among the most effective campaigns in the global
effort.
What is it now?
The overwhelmingly generous response, and the continued clamor for children's aid, inspired
the return of Children's Hour in 2003. It was established as an NGO, registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and accredited by the Philippine Council for NGO
Certification (PCNC). The seal of approval from PCNC means corporate donations given to us
are tax deductible.
From 1999 to June 2009, CHPI has raised P 182 million from 1216 cooperating companies,
institutions and individuals. This allowed us to fund 362 projects with 263 partner
organizations, and these benefited 419,125 children and youth. An additional P20 million was
directed to organizations, selected by nine key donors.
Why does the scheme work?
The idea behind Children's Hour is both simple and equitable, providing individuals of all ages,
backgrounds and professions the opportunity to take part in making a positive contribution to
the lives of our children. Whether you earn P5,000 an hour or the equivalent of one hour in
minimum wage, it makes no difference. The campaign hopes to nurture greater social
commitment among all members of society.
Where does the money go?
We aim to make the most out of the donations entrusted to us. We fund programs in the areas
of education, health and nutrition, shelter and foster care and psychosocial rehabilitation. Of
these many areas for intervention, we have placed primary focus on education. We believe it's
the key out of poverty, and the best way to empower beneficiaries and help them grow into
productive and responsible citizens.
Therefore, backed up by the Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary
education, and confronted with harsh realities on the ground, we have made education the
major component of most of our projects.
Children's Hour Flagship Projects
Flagship projects are those projects that we committed to support long term, since these
require longer implementation in order to fully appreciate its benefits and impact. It also helps
us to better measure and evaluate a project's potential for expansion and replication.
Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education (Centex). The
emergence of technology as an integral teaching tool created a
wider gap between private and public schools. CENTEX aims to
narrow this gap by designing its curriculum to give technology
prominence across all subject areas. The intent of CENTEX is to
ensure that all its students from marginalized families become
successful, lifelong learners prepared for the complex challenges
of the information age of the 21st century.
Sharing the Light aims to increase English, reading and writing
proficiency in public school students through the rehabilitation of
public high school libraries, including the conduct of librarian
training and reading programs.
Childstart-BATA is a holistic pre–school education program that
includes strong values–based curriculum, teacher training,
parents' formation, and supplementary feeding designed to
prepare incoming Grade One students mentally and physically.
School-Based Psychosocial Program for Children of Overseas
Filipinos addresses the psychosocial cost of migration to children of
overseas Filipinos and promotes an environment that inspires them
to aspire for excellence in education by realizing the value of their
parent's hard work abroad.
St. Bernard Educational Trust Fund is a special project for
orphaned survivors of the massive Leyte landslide in
February 2006. The project spans 11 years, since
Children's Hour committed to support 56 scholars from
elementary thru high school.
While we have devoted the greater part of our funds to flagship projects, we also continue to
address the other needs of children thru smaller, one-year projects. These projects allow us to
reach other children and help us identify partners for future flagship projects.
Contact Information
Children's Hour Philippines, Inc.,
5/F Dominion Bldg., 833 A.S. Arnaiz Avenue, Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229, Philippines,
Tel. No. :
(63.2) 894.1663, Telefax: (63.2) 893.2236
Email :
Website : http://www.childrenshour.org.ph
