PRESS RELEASE
THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL KNOWLEDGE IS HERE: 10,000 SHS STUDENTS NATIONWIDE WILL EXPERIENCE THE eSMART DIGITAL LICENCE+ BY JA PHILIPPINES, WITH ALANNAH & MADELINE FOUNDATION AND THE ACCENTURE FOUNDATION!
As our world continues to dive into the different perspectives of digital advancements, it is also a challenge for people to adjust to the changes and accept the progress that our society has gone through. It is an undeniable factor that nowadays, having digital knowledge is an advantage in our daily lives. In the Philippines, the Filipino youth are in need of having the capability to think for themselves and conquer these challenges in this ever-growing digital world that we live in.
From this, the JA Philippines, in partnership with Alannah & Madeline Foundation (AMF), the DQ Institute, and funded by the Accenture Foundation – has officially launched its main program, the eSmart Digital Licence+ across the Philippines! This is a program that aims to build digital intelligence for today’s youth and the next generations to come, by expanding their knowledge and skills through the use of technology, cyber-risk management, cybersecurity, and the relevance of online culture.
One of the major advocacies of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation (AMF) and the Accenture Foundation is the dedication to keeping the children free from violence and trauma in the digital aspects of our world; and it is within the eSmart Digital Licence+ that they can fulfill its mission in empowering young minds for their own future. In this perspective, the JA PH, along with its partners, has been in the process of thoroughly collaborating to develop and align the program to the current needs of the young Filipino Junior High School students, as well as connect it with the Department of Education’s curriculum for the school year 2022-2023.
In line with JA 360: Philippine Partners Summit’s first event under the Work Readiness Week, the launching event was held to officially begin and introduce the program to its stakeholders held last October 24 2022. Certainly, the event was dedicated to showing appreciation to the respective partners who have actively supported the goals and objectives of the program. The event has surely marked the beginning of achieving digital knowledge for our future participants!
The event started with opening remarks from the Chief Operations Officer of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Scott Gordon, where he emphasized a cornerstone of their work, which is the eSmart Digital Licence+, a world’s first, that would harness the power of the DQ Global Standards to build and measure the growth in student’s digital intelligence competencies.
“If we combine our extensive knowledge from working with schools in Australia and New Zealand that has gone into the eSmart Digital Licence+, with JA Philippines’ on-the-ground expertise, and Accenture guidance, we believe that the eSmart Digital Licence+ can go a long way in making a difference.”
- Scott Gordon
In addition, Jim Feutrill, the Project Manager of Digital Licence+, represented the program as the event’s first keynote speaker. His speech focused on the global need to adapt to digital intelligence because this is the future of our society.
“Digital intelligence gives you the capacity to have a safe and secured way of utilizing technology, and prepares you to have a positive experience with it.”
- Jim Feutrill
As the event proceeded, it also gave time to recognize the primary sponsor of the overall program, the Accenture Foundation, while celebrating with the division partners for their continued determination and diligence in producing participants for eSmart Digital Licence+. As all divisions move forward with the program, they have all received the corresponding welcome kits that they can use and take advantage of in helping the students succeed in the program. It is with our delightful energy to announce that as of October 2022, there are already more than 10,000 registered participants in our program!
“Our division is fully committed to the goals and objectives of the program, because we know that at this point of our lives, this is what our young student needs.”
– Representative from DepEd Caloocan
“This program can give a positive impact to the minds of our students.”
– Mr. Gilbert Sadsad, Regional Director of DepEd Bicol Region
At the last part of the event, it focused on the announcement of winners from the recently concluded Cyber Consciousness Short Video Contest that was held from August 10, 2022, to September 23, 2022. In partnership with Agile Momentum, the main objective of the video contest is to produce a 2-minute video that would emphasize the importance of having self-knowledge in digital aspects such as phishing, social media, ransomware, scams, and passwords. A total of 30 participants submitted their video entries, and the participant who won the top cash prize of 500 USD is Shiela Tanagon, who tackled the topic on Social Media. Consolation prizes of 50 USD were also given to other participants who made it to the Top 20! The winners were all deserving of the prizes, and their efforts have surely made a way for them to reach their aspirations for the competition!
Indeed, with the program’s recently concluded successful pilot run and its launching event, there is a great path that awaits the Filipino youth toward understanding the importance of digital knowledge! Most importantly, the program has just begun, and we cannot wait to discover growth and progress for our beneficiaries!
“We are proud and grateful for our partners for the digital licence program, and to our partner schools and divisions who are committed in helping this program reach our students.”
– Mr. Krishna Alejandrino, JA PH’s Executive Director,
Congratulations to JA Philippines and its partners for the program, AMF and most especially to the Accenture Foundation! Surely, this program will not be possible without them.
Together, let’s be digitally smart, with eSmart!
#EmpoweringDigitalBreakthroughs
If you want to know more and be updated about the eSmart Digital Licence+ program and other JA Philippines programs, make sure to follow our official Facebook Page (@JuniorAchievementPH)!
