Spread the smiles, save the children

MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and two private firms have launched a program aimed at generating P1 million to support the international agency’s early childhood development program in the country

UNICEF has partnered with Sony Ericsson Philippines and SM Supermalls for the  “Spread the Smiles” charity campaign aimed at collecting a million photographed smiles with the price tag of P1 for each photo.

“The campaign aims to collect a million digital smile photos through smile booths located in SM Supermalls to raise money for UNICEF,” said Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson general manager.

Each smile photo taken at the booth would be equivalent to a P1 donation to UNICEF. For a P20 donation at the booth, the donor gets a souvenir photo courtesy of printing partner Digiprint, while another photo goes up on the “smile wall,” Manzano said.

The campaign is expected to benefit Filipino children nationwide under UNICEF’s educational programs, he said.

Unicef country representative Vanessa Tobin said many Filipino children miss out on the opportunity to develop to their full potential as many of them do not have access to positive early experiences that support brain growth and development.

She said the situation is felt much more in densely populated communities in cities and in remote rural areas.

“In these areas, many young children stay out of day care or pre-schools, usually staying home without adult supervision or roaming outside to play or find work,” Tobin said.

“With Spread the Smiles, we at Sony Ericsson recognize our nature as a people who smile through adversity, and smile through change,” Manzano said.

Smile booths are located in 17 areas, nine of them in SM Supermalls: SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Cebu, SM Davao, SM Iloilo, SM Pampanga, and SM Manila.

The “Spread the Smiles” campaign will run until June 30.