Starbucks brings more than a spark of hope

MANILA, Philippines - Starbucks Philippines has been serving the finest coffee experience since it first opened its doors on Dec. 4, 1997. Fifteen years and two hundred stores later, its passion for coffee continues to flourish alongside its commitment to cultivate favorable change.

Starbucks has always believed that businesses should have a positive impact on the communities they serve. This is founded on its corporate view that there should be a balance between profitability and social conscience.

Guided by this belief, Starbucks has partnered with non-profit organizations to implement projects that help communities thrive.

Project SparkHope

One such community project is SparkHope. In collaboration with UNICEF, the program is aimed at providing early childhood care and education to several barangays all over the country.

A UNICEF report states that the “lack of early learning and socialization experiences among young children often makes their transition from home to school traumatic. Commencing school requires children to negotiate many changes in identity, relationships, physical environment, social setting, learning environment and rules. If the move to school goes badly and children do not manage the demands of their new environment, then their engagement and attendance in school can be compromised.”

In the Philippines, it has been identified that low school readiness is linked to a high incidence of dropouts in the early grade levels. In densely populated areas, with little land and space, there are too few learning centers to accommodate the high number of children.

SparkHope aims to address this issue by helping expand the access of children to early learning. Launched in November 2004, SparkHope has reached out to many communities, beginning with just nine to more than 58 barangays by the end of 2011.

How the Starbucks planner helps

Fueling SparkHope is the Starbucks planner. Truly it is more than a favorite Christmas tradition, for a portion of the proceeds from the successful planner campaign goes to SparkHope.

The Starbucks planner that you have been faithfully purchasing through accumulated stickers has helped thousands of young children.

In 2005, proceeds from the sale of the Starbucks planner have helped SparkHope put up 16 day care centers and six pre-schools in nine barangays all over the Philippines.

By 2007, more than 1,500 children participated in home-based early childhood care and development (ECCD) programs.

By the end of 2011 alone, SparkHope assisted in bringing ECCD services to 1,911 toddlers in remote rural areas of Sarangani province and the urban poor communities of Manila and Davao City.

In 10 highland barangays, 652 toddlers belonging to the B’laan and K’lagan tribes were also reached. This was made possible by the establishment of home-based and on-horse programs.

SparkHope also provides for parent education services, helping improve child-rearing skills. Through this part of the program, parents are taught to foster the holistic development of young children.

Response to the program has been good, generating community interest, support and participation. If not for the efforts of SparkHope, these children could have been left unattended, roaming the dangerous streets and falling prey to criminal elements.

These great results and optimism for a better future have come from the Starbucks planner and your determination to get one.

Helping communities

Sparkhope is just one of the many programs endeavored by Starbucks to help communities thrive. Starbucks takes to heart its commitment to do business responsibly, to effect positive change, and to make a difference in people’s lives.

Starbucks is committed to bringing people together with the goal of cultivating change, one relationship at a time. From non-profit organizations to business and civic leaders to the customers, Starbucks believes in innovative partnerships that create solution and help communities.

While you enjoy your favorite Starbucks brew or beverage or while you write on your Starbucks planner, be heartened by the knowledge that you are helping Starbucks help others.