FWD Insurance partners with Humanity & Inclusion in empowering youth with disabilities in Asia via 'Forward Together'
Friday, October 19, 2018
Guest of honor Raphael Torralba (third from left), DFA Assistant for Programs for PWDs receives a plaque of appreciation: “Everyone has the potential to be a diplomat, ambassadors for change—I am a diplomat for PWDs.”
Joining him are from left: FWD Insurance General Counsel Atty. Teroy Roman, Head of Marketing Roche Vandenberge; and H&I Regional Coordinator Bryan Marsalis
FWD Life Insurance, the most exciting insurance brand in the country, together with its partner Humanity & Inclusion (formerly known as Handicap International, an independent international aid organization), celebrated the beginning of the Forward Together project, helping young people with disabilities find employment opportunities in the Philippines and beyond.
Through the regional partnership initially announced by the insurer in the first half of 2018, both organizations will work towards advocating equal opportunities and empowering people with disabilities in Asia. With FWD Group investing USD 1million, the Forward Together project will train at least 380 youth with disabilities in the Philippines and Indonesia and help them secure sustainable employment or business opportunities.
“FWD Life Philippines aims to end the stigma that disability corresponds to inability,” FWD Life Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes said. “Through our partnership with Humanity & Inclusion, we hope to provide a platform for people with disabilities to showcase their strengths and abilities. We want to encourage everyone to help create a future with a difference for people with disabilities with opportunities to become valuable and equal contributors to the community.”
“Developing countries are encouraged to invest in youth, but unfortunately, young people with disabilities are usually overlooked in employment and entrepreneurship opportunities,” said Bryan Andrew Marsalis, Humanity & Inclusion Regional Operation Coordinator. “That is why we are very delighted to have such strong support from FWD Group in our advocacy of improving the lives of youth with disabilities. Through this project, we will work with selected employers – including FWD Group – across the two target countries to improve their capacity to employ youth with disabilities.”
“At FWD, we are committed to promoting social inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities, and are very excited to kick start our work with Humanity & Inclusion,” said FWD Life Philippines Head of Marketing and Community Care Country Lead Roche Vandenberghe. “With the Forward Together project, we are enabling businesses and organizations such as ours to become catalysts for quality job creation.”
FWD Insurance General Counsel Atty. Teroy Roman also shared a welcoming message to the media and their partners in Humanity & Inclusion
Raphael Torralba, DFA Assistant for Programs for PWDs also shared a heart warming message on how he strive hard to fight for his rights as he experienced discrimination as a PWD when he was applying for work and in the end, he now serves as an inspiration to everyone.
Also present during the event is Wishcovery Grand Champion Princess Sevillena
FWD Life Philippines and Humanity & Inclusion celebrated the beginning of its Forward Together project with a media event, an interactive visual language activity, and escape room challenge participated by volunteers from both organizations as well as members of the media, held on October 17, 2018 at Century City Mall in Makati City.
FWD Insurance Community Care volunteers hold up their hands with the stylized “Hi!” for Humanity and Inclusion
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