Blogger Insider: DoleFil's CHAIRS FOR TREES PROJECT

"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving individuals. We all must work for our own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity." - Marie Curie

Some people says that if you are sincere in helping others, you do not need to publicize and magnify a buzz about it. But there are some that needs to be highlighted to inspire others and ignite their passion in helping other people, like Dolefil's Chairs for Trees Project.

CHAIRS FOR TREES.

As part of Dolefil's environmental advocacy and a Community Development Reciprocating Action Project, CHAIRS FOR TREES started way back in 2003, where the wooden palettes used by the company are recycled into school armchairs, which are then donated to different public schools in the region. It is the kind of project which creates big impact to different aspects and addresses numbers of today's concerns; that goes by the saying hitting two birds with one stone. For Dolefil's case hitting three or more birds with one stone.

to be recycled

RECYCLING.

Dolefil or Dole Philippines Incorporated is the world's largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and fresh cut flowers with a growing line of quality packaged foods. The company particularly uses wooden palettes as part of it processes. This palettes tends to become brittle after a number of usage, thus become unusable for the company. Instead of having it naturally degrade in a dump site, these wooden palettes are collected and turned-over to their partner cooperative for recycling.

At Unified Engineering and Manpower Services Multi-Purpose Cooperative, these wooden palettes are transformed into useful and colorful armchairs, kiddie chairs, kiddie tables or pews. Dolefil will then pay the cooperative P270 per armchair fabricated.

the famous chairs

RECIPROCATE

"Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it."

Since the project started, it has donated almost 50,000 chairs to different schools, day care centers and churches in Region XII. Unlike the other usual plain dole out activities, the Chairs for Trees project does not only give chairs, it also promotes the culture of give and take among the recipient community. For every P10 worth of Dolefils' assistance, the beneficiary should reciprocate by planting and growing a tree. In the case of the school armchair which is worth P270, the adopted school should grow 27 trees per chairs donated. Seedlings are still provided by Dolefil, all they have to do is to plant and make sure to grow at least 80% of the total number of the trees planted for assessment.

The project thus not only answer the needs of the public schools in the region but also addresses the issue on global warming thus it is called the CHAIRS FOR TREES Project.

Chairs for Trees also created jobs

LIVELIHOOD.

The project also created a livelihood for the community. Carpenters and painters are given jobs by the Unified Engineering and Manpower Services Multi-Purpose Cooperative who manufactures the chairs. 

The seedlings on the other hand are purchased by Dolefil from Mt. Matutum  Federation of Marginal Farmers Association located at Barangay Maligo, Polomolok South Cotabato. Each seedlings is being sold for P1.75 to Dolefil for the Chairs for Trees project as well as its other Corporate Social Responsibility activities. In a year, Dolefil procures millions of seedlings from the said association which gives them an assured earning yearly.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

The project involves two essential factors in saving Mother Earth - RECYCLING and PLANTING TREES. Both are made sustainable by the project through Dolefil and its partner agencies.

PARTNERS.

Dolefil tied up with a dependable group in its Chairs for Trees Project and its many other CSR programs through Mahintana Foundation, Inc. The foundation are responsible in identifying beneficiaries and arranging the turn-over ceremonies for the Chairs for Trees. They are also the ones who evaluates the adopted schools if they have done their part by growing at least 80% of the trees planted. 

Dolefil also has a long standing public private relationship with the Local Government Units in Region XII.For the year 2011 the Province of South Cotabato and Dolefil partners in the Chairs for Trees amounting to P5 million in which other LGU's should follow suit.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Special thanks to: Dolefil; Miss Gwyn Ann Marie Ebol - Communication Superintendent of Dolefil for the CSR Tour; Mr. Kinmark Depaylan of Mahintana Foundation Inc.;  Sir Avel Manansala, RS Dee for the photos used in this post and the SOCSKSARGEN Bloggers