Samsung gives digital hope to all

Because of the development in technology, the computer is a good tool for visually impaired persons. In 20 years, we hope that there will be no more blind beggars in the streets," said Tony Llanes, president and social marketing chief of ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, Incorporated)."We were able to produce the first blind medical transcriptionist in Asia. We have the first blind woman who works in a call center. We have the first blind computer science graduate and the first blind web master."

ATRIEV was awarded a grant of P2.4 million by Samsung DigitAll Hope for their project that helps the blind use computers and use technology better.

"I truly admire Samsung’s DigitAll Hope project as it directly addresses the social development of its host countries like the Philippines. Using its superior digital technology to bridge the great divide towards social justice, Samsung has proven its mettle as a corporation with a heart," said Rina Lopez-Bautista, president of the Knowledge Channel, which was awarded a grant of P2 million by the Samsung project. "Today, the Knowledge channel is in more than 1,700 public schools, reaching 2.7 million public school kids."

The Knowledge Channel and ATRIEV are this year’s winners of the 2006 Samsung DigitAll Hope Grant Program, a distinguished award from Samsung that gives recognition and financial assistance to projects that provide the youth with a better future through the use of technology.

Samsung says it believes that technology has become an increasingly important development tool and is the key to unlocking opportunities to help enrich and transform the lives of the physically handicapped and the underprivileged.

It was in 2003 that Samsung started its active campaign to bridge the so-called digital gap.

"It true that in Southeast Asia, the people do not have easy access to technology. We want to be able to share the technology of Samsung," said Dongha Jang, VP marketing-consumer electronics, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation. "We want the youth in the Philippines to become familiar with technology so that in the future, when they start to work, they will have the chance to maximize their potential."

To date, over $1.65 million in grant money has been awarded to 38 organizations, benefiting over 600,000 young people and persons with disabilities.

Reality usually starts with a dream, the saying goes. With the support of people who believe in the same dream, anything is possible. Such is the story behind Samsung’s DigitAll Hope Program, now in its fourth year.

Aligned with Samsung’s core commitment to support educational programs that help financially disabled people in Asia/Pacific to achieve their dreams, the DigitAll Hope program has given added life to programs such as the Knowledge Channel and ATRIEV — this year’s winners.

"It is exciting to see the creativity and innovation that arises each year from beneficiaries who share our vision and see a real opportunity to help the less fortunate to improve their quality of life," said Spencer Shim, president and CEO of SEPCO. "We are all pleased with the progress we have made in bridging the digital divide and will work harder to empower others to do the same."

The criteria for applicants places weight on creativity and innovation: Does the project creatively and/or innovatively use information technology as a means to promote or develop the lives of the youth or disabled? How does the project impact the quality of life of a significant number of people?

Is the project sustainable to provide long-term benefits for the youth? Finally, is the project based on the needs of the target group so that they accept ownership that contributes to sustainability?

The panel of judges this year included Margie Moran Floirendo, Paolo Manzano and Bambam Aquino.

At the end of the judging, two organizations’ programs came out on top: ATRIEV and the Knowledge Channel.

Where The Blind Can See Through Computers

Visually impaired youth no longer have to depend on eyesight to see their dreams turn into reality. ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired) was established in 1994 by a group of blind computer enthusiasts.

ATRIEV pioneered and institutionalized a computer literacy program for the blind through Project ATTRAC (Adaptive Technology for Training, Resource and Access Center). Through a collaboration with STI (Systems Technology Institute), the largest commercial computer educational institution in the Philippines, and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), ATRIEV carries out five-month training programs in Metro Manila to prepare blind individuals in the use of computers, either for post-secondary education or employment.

The main support of ATRIEV comes from ON-NET, a collaboration between the Overbrook School for the blind in Philadelphia, USA, and the Nippon Foundation of Japan. It is a unique program with the long-term goal of integrating blind adults into courses in a commercial computer school for sighted persons and developing job-specific training programs related to IT.

In 2004, ATRIEV introduced a pioneering training program in medical transcription. ATRIEV is the only NGO that has skillfully woven together private business enterprise and government agencies to support demand- driven programs for the blind.

Cable-A-School

The Knowledge Channel Foundation, founded by Bautista, was a response to the country’s urgent need to improve the quality of education and create an impact on the country’s educational system. Anchored on Educational Television, it is the first and only all-educational TV channel on cable. It offers a wide range of learning experiences for kids, teens and adults. For almost seven years, the Knowledge Channel Foundation has been able to provide 1,699 public schools in 57 provinces with the Knowledge Channel, which has helped students increase their comprehension and retention levels by watching the Channel on a regular basis.

For 2007, "Cable-A-School" is designed to be the major implementing arm of the project: "Educational Television: A Strategic Response to the Philippine Poverty Crisis." This is in response to the belief that poverty continues to hound most Filipinos due to lack of quality basic education.

The Cable-A-School program is divided into three components:

1) Programming — acquisition, production and daily airing of 14 hours of instructional video programs anchored on Philippine grade school and high school DECS curriculum.

2) Access — provision of the Knowledge Channel to public schools through cabling (where there are cable operators present) or installation of satellite dishes (in remote or inaccessible areas).

3) Support Programs — production and distribution of Knowledge Channel Calendar Guides and Teacher Guides, training seminar workshops, monitoring and evaluation schemes.

"Samsung is committed to stay with this project. We are growing our business, and in the same measure we want to give back to the Philippines," added Jang. "To the winners, may I say that even if it is just a small budget, I hope that they use it wisely. And, in the future, they will say that Samsung played a part in molding their future."