SunLife's Brighter Builder Challenge

Innate in every Filipino is the ability to give strive and share his or her life’s passion to the less fortunate. On that context our forefathers even coined the word “Bayanihan”, a Filipino trait that does not only help the person who seeks for one but also make sure that in any aid the giver contributes, they were able to give their best at any particular task. Nevertheless, the recently concluded Brighter World Builder Challenge of Sunlife Financial – Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SunLife Financial Foundation) revealed the 10 outstanding entrepreneurs with ultimate goal of sharing their passion to targetted depressed communities in the country. Each gets a funding of Php 100,000.00 (One Hundred thousand pesos) to support their advocacy’s projects as they share their core talents on their chosen community or group.
SunLife Financial together with Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran (SPARK Philippines) made sure that the ten would create a big dent to an ailing society. As I Listen to one of the awardees experience at Children of Sugar Cane Farmers in Bacolod, she asked the child what she wants to be when she grows up, the child uttered, I want to be a maid. Another child was asked the same question and he responded, he wants to be a janitor.  The state of the children’s environment played a major role on their goals in life.    
 
as she developed the program to help educate kids and dream more. Quoting the words of Mr. Alex Narciso, President of Sun Life Foundation. “One of the core pillars of Sun Life Foundation is education, and the Brighter World Builder Challenge was launched because we wanted to give recognition to individuals and groups who have programs in place that teach Filipinos about the importance of financial literacy,”
 
 
From the final pitch, 10 lucky entries were selected:
 
Bin Stalk – A program designed by Domyson Dulay Abuan for the community of Malaban that combines learnings on financial literacy and waste management;

Budget Squad Manila – A social enterprise focused on teaching good money management skills and financial literacy through creatively designed personal finance tools;

EmpoWomen PH – A non-profit organization that aims to help displaced women and families in Marawi City through sustainable sources of income;

FLOW Inc. – Stands for Financial and Life Opportunities for Women and focuses on giving practical education in finance for marginalized and average social class women;

Kids Who Save (KHuSA) – Game-based learning designed to simplify the concept of financial literacy for young kids;

Young Savers: Experiential Learning to Financial Literacy – At the Mano Amiga Academy, children from the lower end of the socio economic ladder are taught the value of financial responsibility through project-based learning;

Change for a Life – A campaign created to help lower income families manage their finances to fit their expenses and save money;

Children of Sugar Cane Farmers in Bacolod – A program designed to teach children of sugar cane farmers about the opportunities open to them to uplift their family’s lives;

COINscious JUAN – A savings app created to promote the importance of being conscious of one’s spending habits, and;

Pitaka ko:’ A Learning & Savings Journal for Kids – An interactive and creative learning and savings journal for kids ages eight to 15 designed by Roxanne Navarro.