A game of bowling with Best Buddies
For regular
shoppers, it may have been just an ordinary afternoon at the mall, but for
Vico, 28, it was a special day to spend a few hours enjoying a game of bowling
with his friends from Best Buddies Philippines. The group of friends were at the mall, with
other pairs of best friends, for a friendly bowling tournament organized by Best
Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global
volunteer movement for one-to-one friendships and inclusive opportunities for
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
The activity
is one of the many initiatives organized by Best Buddies, in partnership with
SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc.
During the event, individuals with IDD like Vico, had a fun afternoon hanging
out with their Peer Buddies volunteers who committed to spend time, have
fun activities, communicate on a regular basis and enrich their lives through
friendships with individuals like Vico.
Catherine
Cham, mother of Vico, said that events like the Best Buddies Bowling Game give
her son an avenue to socialize and feel he is a regular part of a group. She is
very thankful for Best Buddies which she said helped her find a best buddy for
Vico.
“His peer buddy is Buboy Palomares. They’ve been friends
for 4 years. They used to jog regularly twice a month or watch a movie. They
also engage in group activities. With Buboy, Vico was able to find a friend
whom he would text regularly. It is
really important for parents because it’s really not easy to entrust your child
to somebody.”
“We are very
thankful for the support that we have received from our volunteers and sponsors,”
exclaims Michelle Aventajado, executive director of Best Buddies Philippines. “Events like these strengthen the friendship
between volunteers and individuals with IDD. It’s a great opportunity to
promote inclusion, have fun, and enrich the lives of everyone involved in the
Best Buddies program.”
For SM Cares,
the event is another opportunity to support and give back to the community. “At SM, we believe that establishing good
relations can positively affect and inspire those with special needs. We strive
to make every SM Mall, a mall for all, and by supporting activities such as
this, everyone can enjoy the same fun and leisure in SM, as anyone would do,”
said Engr. Bien Mateo, program director of SM Cares Program on PWDs.
Best Buddies Philippines is looking into partnering
with private entities like SM who can support them in their advocacy and their other
programs. It also aims to widen its scope in the next 5 years by establishing
Friendship Chapters in more schools nationwide.
To
know more about Best Buddies Philippines you may visit www.bestbuddiesphilippines.com,
https://www.facebook.com/BestBuddiesPhilippines/,
or send an e-mail to bestbuddiesmanila@gmail.com.
To know more
about SM Cares, you may visit www.smcares.com.ph,
www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares,
or send an e-mail to smcares@smsupermalls.com.
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