Coca-Cola Launches Every Bottles Has A Story - Jenny Sanchez Story With the Little Red Schoolhouse Project
A 13-year old Jenny Sanchez dreams of going to college and becoming a
teacher. Her favorite subject is
Science. Her dreams are not
insurmountable but for the fact that she has to traverse two hours on foot,
crossing streams and open fields just to get to class.
Jenny has proven to be an avid student. Her perseverance and
enthusiasm to stay in school and her dream of becoming a teacher was the
inspiration for the latest Coca-Cola ‘Every
Bottle Has a Story’ documentary film.
The film features Jenny, one of the few Aetas to finish elementary
school, as well as her teacher, Grace Ann Maristela, who observes first-hand
the transformation that education has had on Jenny and the other children in
the class. “The children have a greater
sense of confidence, said Ms. Maristela.
“They are eager to aim high and see their lives more positively.”
Jenny and her family belong to the Aeta community, an
indigenous tribe living in the remote region of Sitio Mabilog Anopol, Tarlac, in the Philippines. For the residents of Sitio Malasa, an
under-developed multi-cultural community where Jenny’s school is located, life
is a daily struggle. The Aetas are among
the poorest of the indigenous communities throughout the Philippines. Aeta children face severe disadvantages as
their access to education is often restricted not only by distance, but also by
a shortage of school buildings, trained teachers and basic school
supplies.
This problem is shared by many children in remote rural
communities throughout the Philippines. To help improve basic education in
impoverished areas, Coca-Cola Philippines launched the Little Red Schoolhouse
project in 1997. The Little Red Schoolhouse project was created to help improve elementary education for disadvantaged children in
remote areas all across the country. Coca-Cola’s partnership with the
Philippines Department of Education and the Philippine Business for Social
Progress has built 275 classrooms at 93 schools nationwide, reaching nearly
60,000 schoolchildren and more than 3,100 teachers thus far.Each Little Red
Schoolhouse is fully furnished and includes a water system and toilets. The
project also provides training for teachers, particularly on classroom
management techniques for multi-grade environments. It also provides storybooks
and a special reading program in partnership with the Sa Aklat Sisikat (SAS)
Foundation, to encourage the love and habit of reading among the students. Parent-Teacher-Community
Associations (PTCA) are also organized to provide support to the teachers,
particularly in keeping the children in school and maintaining the school
infrastructure.
“Education is one of the gifts that one can give a community
that will surely create positive change and ensure a better future for all,”
said Cecile Alcantara, President, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines. “This year, the Coca-Cola Foundation
Philippines is on track to complete and turn over its 100thLittle
Red Schoolhouse as Coca-Cola celebrates its 100th anniversary in the
Philippines. We are proud to work side
by side with teachers and parents to make these schools successful.”
To commemorate its 100th
year in the Philippines, Coca-Cola Philippines will construct its 100th
Little Red Schoolhouse by the end of 2012.This is one of several
transformational programs that the Company has accelerated this year as a
gesture of gratitude to the Philippine people for making Coca-Cola part of their lives
for the last 100 years.
Coca-Cola began operations in the Philippines in 1912. The country was the first nation outside of the North American region to receive a Coca-Cola bottling and distribution franchise. Today, the Philippines ranks among the top
ten global markets for The Coca-Cola Company.A
August 1, 2012 "A pre-screening was hosted by Coca-Cola Philippines at myCinema in Greenbelt 3."
August 1, 2012 "A pre-screening was hosted by Coca-Cola Philippines at myCinema in Greenbelt 3."