More than their ability to nurture families, women also carry the power to foster communities and drive positive change through their leadership in various movements and advocacy efforts.
This was exemplified during a recent tree-planting activity organized by leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. in celebration of Women’s Month, with the mentors and mentees from its women’s leadership program, Grace Under Pressure: MentorSHE, leading the way.
Braving the scorching heat, around 30 employees came together to plant 1,000 mandarin, and coffee seedlings in Sitio Sapangbato, Angeles, Pampanga, supporting the local government’s Watershed Reforestation Program.
“We kicked off Women’s Month with this initiative to not only protect the environment but also demonstrate our commitment to the communities we serve,” said Converge VP and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Jay-Anne Encarnado, who is one of the mentors of MentorSHE who volunteered for the activity. “As leaders, we must excel in our professional roles while showing our dedication to sustainability and community welfare.”
The tree-planting project contributes to protecting the watershed – which regulates water supply in nearby communities – and at the same time, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers in the area.
Reflecting on the fulfillment that comes from such work, MentorSHE mentor and Converge VP and Head of System & Process Improvement Mel Cabase said, “It’s fulfilling to contribute to the environment, not just for our generation but for the future. We hope the trees will flourish and contribute to a healthier environment for the next generation.”
For Converge Head of Global Network Operations Center (NOC) and mentee Donna Villanueva, her volunteer experience was transformative in different ways. “This is my first time to participate in an outdoor activity of the company and I don’t think this will be the last. Aside from being an eye-opener in terms of our climate, this also helped me physically as I was able to move around and exercise. It’s a breath of fresh air after a week of work in the office.”
Soon, Converge is set to return to the area to plant an additional 1,350 seedlings for the second batch. Anchored on one of its sustainability pillars which regards giving back to the planet, Converge partnered with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) last December to also sow around 600 seedlings of the critically endangered Philippine teak in Lobo, Batangas.
