In October of 1990, AWECA Foundation, Incorporated (AFI) was established as the Corporate Social arm of the AWECA Group of Companies – a furniture export company from the Philippines. AFI is a registered non-profit, a non-government organization licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It is accredited by the Provincial Government of Pampanga, City Government of Angeles, City Government of San Fernando and Municipal Government of Floridablanca and other towns of Pampanga, where projects/services rendered in placed. Re-accreditation as the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) organization as a Donee Institution is currently in progress for PCNC’s accreditation. The Foundation strives to widen its service staying true to its mission to see “an empowered and sustainable community of people” coupled with its principle of “to serve is an honor a privilege and a blessing”.
Apart of AFI’s membership with the Association of Foundations, Regional Association of DSWD Accredited & Licensed NGO/Institution-Region 3 (READLANI), and Pampanga Association of NGO (PAMPANGO), it has an affiliation with the Clinton Global Initiative-Asia. Where currently, AFI has a commitment to action dubbed as School Caravan. That is where it has committed to bring technical and practical education accessible in Central Luzon Region, Philippines through operation of a mobile school; and conduct trainings to 9,000 students, youth and women in various job skills, sustainable farming and agro-forestry, and entrepreneurship.
Since AFI’s inception in 1990, strong partnerships with various government and private agencies have been established. Among these was United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Canada International Development Agency (CIDA), Canada Fund and Philippine Business for Social Progress. AFI was also entered into mutual agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry, Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, Peace and Equity Foundation, OTSUKA (Pharmaceuticals) Phil., and recently with the Western Union Foundation.
In 2006, AFI had an opportunity to work with the United Parcel Services (UPS) International and UPS Foundation. The project known today as the, “Development of Literacy and Training Assistance for Indigenous Peoples” was successfully completed in 2007, touched 591 indigenous peoples in Pampanga. With distinctive approach in improving the level of literacy and awareness of indigenous peoples, it was recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region 3 as the most appropriate and functional project for the Aeta tribe and an official entry in 2006 Asian Corporate Social Responsibility Awards under the education category. Some of locally-based non-government organizations serving also with indigenous tribes formally adopted and used the indigenized self-learning modules in reading, writing and counting to their respective tribal beneficiaries.
The King Baudouin International Development Prize (2004 Candidate), Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize (2004 Nomination), and DSWD Gawad Paglilingkod Sa Sambayanan (GAPAS) Region 3 Best NGO in 2000 and Runner-up National Best NGO in 2002 are some of AFI’s awards and nominations received for its notable and commendable delivery of social welfare services to the poor.
AFI’s efforts at present focuses on our partnership with Western Union Foundation in combating poverty in Pampanga and the other Provinces of Region 3 by enabling citizens-driven and development-oriented programs such as operation of mobile technical/practical skills training and basic literacy with life skills and responsible parenting support; implementation of environmental projects like establishment of community-based nursery of fruit and fast growing trees, tree-planting in highly-landslide prone areas, food production; and strengthening the capacity of women, youth and indigenous peoples for community development.
