Upholding its mission to give back while promoting health and wellness within the company, TELUS International Philippines officially launched the TELUS Days of Giving (TDOG) Virtual Run 2021 by empowering its team members to support distance learners while staying fit from the safety of their communities.
The virtual event, which will run from May 1 to 31, will benefit World Vision’s Abutin Na10 Campaign, a fundraising drive that aims to support the Department of Education’s (DepEd) study continuity plan through distance learning initiatives that will reach struggling students. Funds raised from this effort will also be used to reproduce self-learning materials and support DepEd’s Brigada Pagbasa Reading Remediation program.
With 2,343 registered volunteers, TELUS International Philippines team has raised an initial PHP740,250 for World Vision, which will provide over 7,000 printed modules for 7,000 public school students from remote areas in the country. Moreover, the company will donate to World Vision a total of PHP100,000 on behalf of the top three site winners, as well as sponsor a student and donate PHP100 for every team member who finishes their nominated distance category.
“Empowering our team members to give back to the community has always been a part of our company culture. This year, we looked to approach our corporate social responsibility effort using agile-driven methodologies so that our team members can help out from home in addressing the specific and immediate needs of our communities and NGO partners,” said Phoebe Carrera, TELUS International Philippines corporate social responsibility manager.
Unlike running events in the past where participants needed to complete the total distance in a race-type scenario within a given time period, TDOG Virtual Run 2021 takes into account the current quarantine situation. With safety in mind, runners have the entire month of May to complete their chosen distance in their own time, pace, and space. To replicate the marathon experience, employees will also get a runner’s singlet and virtual race bib, as well as a finisher’s shirt upon completion.
Employees who registered for the TDOG Virtual Run 2021 selected from four distance categories: 10 KM, 20 KM, 40 KM, and 60 KM. Runners will track their runs within the month using a fitness gadget or a mobile fitness app. Participants then need to log the date, distance covered, and duration of each run along with a screenshot from the gadget or app as proof and submit these through an online form supplied by TELUS International Philippines.
Individual winners will be awarded based on the shortest accumulated time to complete their chosen distance. All seven TELUS International Philippines work sites will also be competing with each other based on total distance covered by team members.
“Despite the physical distance we find ourselves in, we continue to discover ways to increase our social connectedness through various programs that not only engage team members, but also give them something to look forward to beyond day-to-day work responsibilities,” said Carrera.
The TDOG Virtual Run 2021 is part of TELUS International Philippines’ employee-focused programs that provide avenues for self-improvement, peer-engagement, corporate social responsibility, and continuous learning.