On International Women’s Day, the female staff of Save the Children Philippines open up about how the organization is encouraging a culture of innovation and inclusion especially among women.
“I appreciate the benefits I get as a single mom working in Save the Children, especially the advice on raising children from experts,” said Kitty Arce, Project Manager of Save the Children Philippines’ Sponsorship Program.
Save the Children Philippines, the country’s leading independent child rights organization, has not only been advocating for children’s rights but for the well-being and rights of women and girls too.
“Actually, majority (60%) of our staff are composed of women. That says a lot about who we are as an organization,” said Rowena Cordero, Save the Children Philippines’ Chief of Programs.
The organization believes that not only should there be more women in the workplace but innovation happens readily when the workplace makes women feel included at work.
“Women leading innovation in the workplace means that the workplace empowers women,” said Arce.
Save the Children Philippines has been committed to fostering a culture where its colleagues and partners, including women, are encouraged to innovate.
“Ramdam na ramdam ko sa Save the Children ‘yung pagpapahalaga sa babae tulad ko dahil sa mga programa at kung papaano ine-encourage ang mga staff na bumuo ng mga programa na inclusive,” said Arce.
Arce’s innovative project, ACT! Or Amplifying Children’s Voices in Transforming (Education) Playbook, has equipped children with disabilities come up and implement their own advocacy plans on inclusive education. Parallel sessions with representatives from parent groups and organizations of persons with disability were also held to support children in their advocacies. Because of the success of the project, Arce, together with her colleagues, Joy Sampang and Xerxes de Castro, became the SOLVE for Children’s Rights winner last 2023.
“To enable us to really scale up our work and to be truly responsive to the needs and issues by children in need, we value innovative projects and even partnerships through codesigning for and with children,” said Cordero.
Innovation in the workplace, however, is not a walk in the park.
“One needs to be brave to unlearn and try out new things. One also need to be ready to get back up fast when we fall,” said Arce.
It was also true for Liz Alberto, Corporate Partnerships Coordinator of Save the Children Philippines’ Business Development Unit.
“I realized that innovation is failing fast and learning fast, though it is easier said than done. There’s an unavoidable emotional investment in the idea you propose. Despite knowing that not all of your innovation projects would be successful, receiving rejection would still take a toll on you. However, that’s how I learned and matured,” said Alberto.
“As women in the workplace, we shouldn’t be afraid to try. Because that’s the only way that we will learn. We shouldn’t stop at doing improvements or creating ideas that could potentially help us come up with innovative solutions. Because women can create anything as long as you commit yourself to it,” said Cordero.
Save the Children Philippines joins the rest of society in celebrating International Women’s Day, in inspiring others to understand and value women’s inclusion in the homes, in the workplace, and in the communities.