Sun Life Announces Winners of the Brighter World Builder Challenge

For many years now, financial literacy has been given a big boost and push by one of the country’s leading international financial services organization – the Sun Life Financial Inc. Not only do they provide insurance, but their financial literacy advocacy has opened the eyes of many Filipinos to plan for their future and adopt financial plans and to make it a priority in their lives. Although financial planning hasn’t been really on top of the list of some of our countrymen, there are organizations who have been creating ways and means to show the importance of financial literacy. Of course, in this endeavour, Sun Life, thru its Sun Life Financial - Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation) is in full support.

In partnership with The Spark Project and as part of their celebration of its 10th anniversary, the Sun Life Foundation has helped established a program called the Brighter World Builder Challenge. This program aims to search for, fund, and accelerate financial literacy initiatives.

During the run of the program, the challenge has generated 49 applications. From here only 20 of them were chosen and they have attended the Social Impact Boot Camp that is spearheaded by The Spark Project. At the camp, they were given pointers on how to prepare for their final pitch that will be presented to a distinguished panel of judges. For the final pitch, 10 lucky entries were selected to be awarded during the Brighter World Builder Challenge Awards.

Finally, July 12, 2018 dawned and Sun Life Foundation announced the 10 winners of the Brighter World Builder Challenge that was held at the F1 Hotel BGC.

The ten winners will receive a Php 100,000 grant they can use in the implementation of their projects and programs as well as crowdfunding support from The Spark Project and they are:

Bin Stalk – A program designed by Domyson Dulay Abuan for the community of Malaban that combines learnings on financial literacy and waste management;

Budget Squad Manila – A social enterprise focused on teaching good money management skills and financial literacy through creatively designed personal finance tools;

EmpoWomen PH – A non-profit organization that aims to help displaced women and families in Marawi City through sustainable sources of income;

FLOW Inc. – Stands for Financial and Life Opportunities for Women and focuses on giving practical education in finance for marginalized and average social class women;

Kids Who Save (KHuSA) – Game-based learning designed to simplify the concept of financial literacy for young kids;

Young Savers: Experiential Learning to Financial Literacy – At the Mano Amiga Academy, children from the lower end of the socio-economic ladder are taught the value of financial responsibility through project-based learning;

Change for a Life – A campaign created to help lower income families manage their finances to fit their expenses and save money;

Children of Sugar Cane Farmers in Bacolod – A program designed to teach children of sugar cane farmers about the opportunities open to them to uplift their family’s lives;

COINscious JUAN – A savings app created to promote the importance of being conscious of one’s spending habits, and;

Pitaka ko: A Learning and Savings Journal for Kids – An interactive and creative learning and savings journal for kids ages eight to 15 designed by Roxanne Navarro.

Alex Narciso, President of Sun Life Foundation conveyed during the awarding that, “One of the core pillars of Sun Life Foundation is education, and the Brighter World Builder Challenge was launched because we wanted to give recognition to individuals and groups who have programs in place that teach Filipinos about the importance of financial literacy.”

He also added that, “Our 10 winners have indeed shown that is through creativity and innovation that we are able to encourage Filipinos to be more financially savvy and to become more financially secure.”