Celebrating its 16th year, My Dream in a Shoebox (MDIAS), the annual education campaign led by strategic integrated marketing agency TeamAsia, has launched the first of a series of gift-giving programs for its advocacy aimed at supporting underprivileged children.
In partnership with Eastern Communications, volunteers recently distributed various school supplies to 300 beneficiaries of the Payatas Orione Foundation Inc. (PAOFI) at the Atis Covered Court, Area B., Brgy. Payatas in Quezon City.
The campaign not only provides essential school supplies but also encourages a culture of volunteerism among its beneficiaries.
“The gift giving program is not just about providing school supplies, but also about inspiring children to dream big and be whoever they want to be as they grow. We aim to empower these kids to face the future ready with the tools and support they need,” said TeamAsia President and CEO Bea Lim.
“TeamAsia has been a long-time partner, and together, we’ve been supporting children from various foundations by meeting with them annually and providing ‘dream kits’ and other essential resources,” said Eastern Communications Brand Supervisor Loren Maranan. “Even in small ways, this partnership has a meaningful impact, helping these kids move closer to their dreams. As we continue this collaboration, we’re excited to take it further by organizing additional fundraisers at one of our client appreciation nights. This will allow us, along with our clients, to come together to make a lasting difference and support these children’s futures.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to transform education, MDIAS has been instrumental in turning bigger dreams into brighter realities—encapsulated in the stories of former scholars.
Experiencing MDIAS Transformation
Charlotte Rosalijos, a process associate working in a logistics company and a PAOFI scholar, shared her journey.
“The most significant help I received was from the volunteers who inspired me to help indigent families like mine. I spoke with a volunteer from MDIAS who was also an accountant. I was inspired by her story and realized that pursuing accountancy was worth it because I saw the life she led. I want to grow up to be like her – that’s why I’m also starting to volunteer and hopefully become part of a larger volunteer experience.”
She shared how the lack of school supplies as a child made attending school difficult and often demotivating, even making her question whether continuing her studies was worthwhile. “The people around me didn’t give up on me. They kept saying, ‘You can do it, we will help you.’ MDIAS has been pivotal in my journey.” Reflecting on her experience, Charlotte affirmed, “Education is really the key to success.”
Another former MDIAS and PAOFI scholar, Jayden Rayne Monterey, shared, “I truly appreciate programs like this gift-giving initiative and outreach efforts for kids. They significantly help with children’s studies, just like it did with mine, especially since school supplies are becoming increasingly expensive.”
Her aspirations for these young scholars are clear. “My dream for the MDIAS scholars is to be successful in life and to achieve their goals so they can be happy,” she said.
The gift-giving program by MDIAS is a testament to the power of community support and the impact of education on young lives. As Lim said, it’s about creating a ripple effect – empowering children today so they can uplift their families and communities tomorrow.
The Ripple Effect of Giving
“Together, we can create a cycle of hope and empowerment,” she said. “Each shoebox represents the promise of a brighter future for our children. When we invest in their education, we’re investing in the leaders of tomorrow,” she said. “We’re very grateful to Eastern Communications for their generosity and passion to uplift communities. Through MDIAS, our hope is to inspire not only kids, but volunteers as well. Our shared mission is to uplift our communities, and ultimately our nation,
through education and by dreaming big.”
MDIAS is now in its 16th year of paving the way for a brighter future, one shoebox at a time. To know more about the campaign, visit the website shoeboxcampaign.teamasia.com or contact the organizers at shoebox@teamasia.com.
