IMPACT DECEMBER 2014
INVESTING IN PEOPLE
UNBOUND ALUMNI WANT TO PAY IT FORWARD A desire to give back fuels alumni of Unbound programs in the Philippines. In separate interviews this year, four young adults — Abrel, Jennibeth, Cieleto and Romeo — talked about how their experiences in the Unbound sponsorship and scholarship programs shaped their lives. The four are college graduates and participants in alumni groups from the Quezon and Antipolo programs.
G
rowing up, Abrel hoped for a better future for himself and his family.
As an Unbound scholarship student from 2000 to 2005, Abrel found not only financial
“When I said ‘better future,’ I always
help but “the tools to grow” in the program
thought of money,” Abrel said. “But through
and its community service component. He
time my thinking has changed. It is beyond
also found camaraderie through activities
money, fortune or wealth because I realized
such as the annual Christmas parties.
that those weren’t always the great factors that define success and happiness.
“I found this memorable because these were the times that scholars in different
“It is the character, the manner, the attitude
places gathered to inspire one another, show-
and the heart to extend help to the most needy
case their individual talents, forget the pres-
people and be an instrument of inspiration for
sures of school and just enjoy the moment of (continued)
them to see light and hope beyond hardships.”
Abrel at work as a designer and drafter.
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OUTCOMES SHOW
U
QUEZON
MANILA
‘best of what sponsored young people can achieve’ nbound has implemented various methods to measure and
ANTIPOLO
evaluate programs, their impact and how they can improve. The results are encouraging.
WORK ETHIC AND A MORAL COMPASS: Participants felt
Evaluation specialists Melissa Velazquez and Becky Spachek
conducted Ripple-Effect Mapping with more than 80 program alumni
strongly that their success so far in life is tied to what they learned in the
in the Metro Manila area of the Philippines. REM is a participatory and
program. The skill and talent development plus the nature of a program
qualitative evaluation method used to learn the intended and unintend-
that requires beneficiaries to participate created a sense of confidence
ed results of the program.
and responsibility, while also encouraging character and accountability.
“There are many ways that we see sponsorship supports children and
Participants reported they have the tools to handle personal and ethical challenges in the workplace.
families living in poverty during their time in the program,” Velazquez
LEADERSHIP, SENSE OF SERVICE AND CONFIDENCE: Alumni
said. “But we wanted to take a long view. We wanted to hear from program alumni three, five or 10 years out of the program, how their lives
reported the ability to work with diverse groups, resolve conflicts and
continue to experience sponsorship’s impact.”
demonstrate responsibility as a result of their time at Unbound. Many
EDUCATION: Opportunity for education was the most widely iden-
described the concept of giving back to community outside of family as
tified and the most far-reaching outcome cited by alumni of Unbound’s
something they learned through the program. Participants reported em-
Quezon and Antipolo programs. Former participants reported feeling
ployment in a variety of careers with many securing full-time, salaried jobs. “We are excited about the outcomes we saw in the Philippines,”
that a good education gave them something of value that could not be taken away, and led to job opportunities and the ability to provide for
Spachek said. “They demonstrate the best of what sponsored young
themselves and their families.
people can achieve with Unbound.”
Opportunities allow alumni to help their families, others (continued from front)
brother to school and help other relatives.
togetherness,” Abrel said. “I thought that it
But she doesn’t want to stop there.
was always a celebration of hope and success in each of us.”
neighborhood learn computer skills. Like Cieleto, Romeo is on his way to
“One of my dreams is to become part
achieving his goals. He was sponsored
of Unbound by sponsoring a child, youth
through Unbound for 13 years and partici-
Abrel earned a degree in architecture
or aging,” Jennibeth said. “This truly
pated in the scholarship program for five
and has held various jobs in the field,
became part of my dreams since I was in
years. He worked in a call center and later
including working as a designer and drafter
the program.”
went on to get a job in the banking industry.
for a company in Singapore.
Cieleto’s childhood dream was to be a
With the opportunities he received
These opportunities have allowed Abrel
priest. But his father died when he was a
combined with hard work and planning,
to help his family, and someday he hopes
young boy, and when he got older he had
Romeo has been able to give his parents a
to extend his support by sponsoring a child.
to help his mother take care of their family.
more comfortable life living with him. His
For Jennibeth, being part of Unbound
“That’s why I decided to pursue my stud-
advice to other young people is to live with
gave her confidence and the motivation
ies in computer technology and eventually
to study hard. She was sponsored in the
be a teacher someday,” he said.
fourth grade and received an Unbound
“You must do what it takes to reach your
Being sponsored for 14 years helped earn
a
computer
gratitude and purpose.
scholarship for college. The opportunities
Cieleto
helped her attain her goal to become a
degree. He has a passion for teaching
technology
nurse and work in a hospital.
dreams, but you must remember to stay humble, be goal-oriented. Consider the people around you,” Romeo said.
youth about computers and recently went
“Always look back from where you have
Jennibeth is married now and out on
back to school to study for a teaching cer-
been and learn to share other things that
her own. She was able to send her younger
tificate. He has also helped youth in his
you can.”
Jennibeth visits the Unbound office in Quezon City.
Cieleto (right) and his mother at their home.
1 ELMWOOD AVENUE, KANSAS CITY, KS 66103
800.875.6564
MAIL@UNBOUND.ORG
Romeo enjoys some free time in Manila. UNBOUND.ORG
©UNBOUND 2014