MANILA, Philippines — Social enterprise Generation Hope and MovePH, Rappler’s civic engagement arm, inked an agreement on Wednesday, September 13 to raise awareness about education.
Over the past four years, Generation Hope has donated 100% of the profits from its bottled water product, Hope in a Bottle, to improve public schools in the country. To date, it has sold over 4 million bottles and built 29 classrooms in various locations around the Philippines.
By partnering with MovePH and making use of X, Rappler’s online self-publishing community, Generation Hope plans on raising awareness through the inspiring stories of its beneficiaries.
“The power of Rappler to tell stories and to spread those stories—I think that’s the most important part,” says marketing head Alexi Bautista. “We get to see so many kids impacted, but if only the Hope network knows about it, then the stories just go to waste. If every person knew what it (Hope in a Bottle) actually did, then I think it would gain even more traction.”
According to Bautista, the idea behind the organization was getting Filipinos to show their support for education through small, everyday purchases.
“The whole idea was to utilize the power of Filipinos by voting with their peso,” said Bautista. “You’ll choose Hope simply because you know it gives back, and you know that, when you buy Hope, classrooms are going to be built. We want people to understand that through Rappler.”
With Hope in a Bottle currently being sold in over 1000 retail locations nationwide, Bautista also hopes that increased public awareness about the advocacy will also convince more businesses to partner with their organization.
“What our social media channels share is that any brand, any company big or small, can carry Hope,” says Bautista. “And it will matter, because every single bottle counts.” – Rappler.com
Paco Tantoco is a Rappler intern.