Better World greets you all a Happy and Blessed 2010!

As we launch into the new year, we give thanks to the Lord for the year that was…

2009 was a year of partnerships for Better World.

It began with a partnership with ATRIEV Computer School for the Blind. ATRIEV asked Better World to create a series of videos as part of the Samsung Hope Campaign, in which ATRIEV was vying for a much-needed grant. Better World created 7 short videos to advocate equal opportunity for persons with disabilities, to promote disability awareness and to help raise awareness about ATRIEV’s work. ATRIEV teaches basic computer skills, provides job training in medical transcription and similar fields, and offers college scholarships, all for people who are visually impaired. Hundreds of people watched the videos on YouTube and voted in the Samsung Hope contest. ATRIEV went on to win that contest, and was given a one million peso grant to continue its good work. Better World is proud to have helped ATRIEV in its noble mission.

Better World also contributed its talents to a video project for the Cooperative Education Forum. Cooperatives are not only effective vehicles for poverty alleviation; they are designed to be models of fair and socially responsible business practices, based on values of justice and charity. The videos commissioned by CEF remind people of the cooperative values such as honesty, caring for others, responsibility and solidarity; and of the members’ role in making sure that their cooperative lives up to these ideals.

Better World’s 2009 outreach projects were also in partnership with like-minded organizations. In August, Better World visited the children of Kythe, an organization that offers psycho-social help to children with cancer and other long-term illnesses. Better World and volunteers had a fun day with the kids and their moms, with what Kythe calls a “Celebrate Life” party. It was indeed a celebration, giving the kids and their moms a break from the usual routines of illness and treatment, with Kuwentong Dinig storytelling, games, songs, food and giveaways. We hope that through our small gesture, we were able to bring a little cheer and a big sense of God’s love to these kids and their families.

Before the year ended, we had another outreach activity, this time in cooperation with Sis Joy Gonzales and the Missionaries of God’s love. This was the second time we have visited the inmates of the Correctional Institute for Women, but this time, the attendees were people who didn’t have families or friends to come to visit them. Even though it was a few days late, it was a true Christmas party, with prayer and sharing and songs of worship, as well as games just for fun, and of course, sharing of food and simple gifts. They were all very grateful. They once again said how much it means to them to receive even the simplest things they often go without – like a sachet of shampoo or a bar of soap. But, more than that, they said, it meant so much to them to just have people visit, to give them time, a little kindness, a simple hug. And it meant so much to us to be able to share our blessings with them. We thank the people of CIW, as well as our volunteers, donors and partners, who helped make that happen.

Of course, Better World continued distributing its Kuwentong Dinig children’s books in audio, Braille and large print, to schools for visually impaired children. For this, our partners were none other than you – our dear friends and supporters, people who chose to sponsor a school or make a donation so that more and more kids in need could benefit from these books. Because of your help, 190 schools have now received Kuwentong Dinig sets. Teachers from beneficiary schools all over the country continue to tell us how these books have helped their students learn, communicate, and be inspired. Thank you all for your generosity. Let us all continue to work together to touch the lives of these and other people in need.

May 2010 be another year of abundant blessings and of sharing those blessings with those in need. May God bless you and be with you all this new year and always!

Kuwentong Dinig update

As of July 15, 2009, 190 schools have received Kuwentong Dinig sets. Through the generosity of Target foundation, Dow Chemical, JRS Express and other donors, the Kuwentong Dinig books are given for free to schools with programs for visually impaired children.

Help us reach more kids and more schools.  Support Kuwentong Dinig.  Every donation counts.  You can make a difference in a child’s life today.

Contact us at 09155719362 or email betterworldmedia@yahoo.com. Kuwentong Dinig is a series of original value-oriented children’s books in Filipino produced in audio form, Braille and large print.

Helping the blind to see through computers with ATRIEV

Better World Media joined long-time partner ATRIEV Computer School for the Blind early this year to produce a series of videos to champion equality for people with disabilities and to raise awareness about the admirable work ATRIEV is doing for people who are visually impaired.

Learning to use computers opens new doors for people who are visually impaired.  Aside from increased access to information and channels of communication, computer education opens up much-needed opportunities for employment.  ATRIEV offers courses in medical and musical transcription, aside from its basic computer courses.  It also provides college scholarship programs through the help of generous donors.

ATRIEV conducted this year’s advocacy video campaign in line with the Samsung Hope project and was subsequently chosen to receive a grant of one million pesos.  The grant will help more and more visually impaired scholars receive the life-changing training ATRIEV offers.

Better World is proud to have created these videos for ATRIEV.  The videos are currently posted on Youtube on the channel ATRIEV.  Aside from the advocacy videos created by Better World, you can also see some of the talented performers from among ATRIEV’s present and former students and teachers.

From Better World and its partners and friends, Congratulations to ATRIEV! May you continue to help the blind see a brighter future!

Youtube videos:

“What if?’  - a humorous look at what it might mean to a sighted person to suddenly not be able to read or see and how the technology ATRIEV teaches can open up new worlds to someone who is visually impaired http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqPUMTB7aBg&feature=channel

 ”ATRIEV-Just like you” – visually impaired and sighted people together make a statement that all are equal and deserve equal opportunities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUk8CM5LsYM&feature=related

 ”Seeing the world through blind eyes” –  the point of view of someone who is visually impaired: how the world perceives and treats her as different, when in reality, she is just like anyone else. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu8zQ6eZG4c&feature=related

  “ATRIEV-Aleeia (DEIT)”  – a look at how ATRIEV’s Digital Early Intervention Training can improve everyday life for a visually impaired child. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNYiDufajQs&feature=channel 

“Alona Bateg: Introduction” and “ATRIEV -Alona Bateg- The Story” – the amazing story of the second blind medical transcriptionist in Asia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1hITE2Gt2I&feature=channel_page and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLeU38g0hNE&feature=channel

 “Angel Balasabas’ Scrapbook” and “ATRIEV- Angel Balasabas – profiles of a Samsung DigitAll Scholar and how ATRIEV gave her a chance at the college education she always dreamed of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_KLlWAoyaY&feature=channel and  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQWV5gXu0r4&feature=channel

 “Seeing the world through Blind Eyes 2” – profile of Julius Serrano, blind computer programmer and former ATRIEV student “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkcSYbKo2Vs&feature=related

A Drizzle of Faith for a Better World

At Better World, we know how easily we are influenced by the messages all around us – the things we see and hear. These messages are not limited to the traditional mass media. They are all around us. As we teach kids in our media literacy classes, even what we wear is a type of advertising. For clothing brands, we often become walking billboards. As billboards, we have to ask ourselves, what are we advertising? Today’s fashion fads include t-shirts with offensive symbols or obscene words or images. A Drizzle of Faith counters these with inspirational t-shirts, bags, accessories and gift items promoting messages of hope, faith, love and joy.  Assurances of God’s love and challenges to live the faith are among the positive messages seen in the Drizzle of Faith collection.  And by shopping at A Drizzle of Faith, you are helping support Better World Media and its projects.  Better World is proud to be a part of A Drizzle of Faith. Check out the website www.adrizzleoffaith.multiply.com

Better World updates

Though we’ve been slow to update the site, Better World has been busy these past few months.

Better World began production on Flow!, a series of videos on how each of us can do something today to make a difference in this world. 

Volunteers joined us on a visit to the Correctional Institute for Women.  While we covered a story for Flow! on those involved in the prison ministry, we shared our blessing with our sisters at CIW.

Atriev, one of our partner NGO’s,  held a benefit concert entitled Stand By Me.  Better World was allowed to use the opportunity to promote and raise funds for Kuwentong Dinig, audiobooks for visually impaired children.

The Kuwentong Dinig books in audio, Braille and large print are being sent to more and more schools and benefiting more and more children thanks to generous donors like you!

More on these and other stories to come!

  Better World launches new books and Visits kids in Payatas

 

                                    

Better World Media launches two new story books for children and pays a visit to the kids at Payatas Tres community center.

 

 

 

Si Fidel at ang Kanyang mga Kaibigan is the first in Better World Media’s environmental book series, designed to help children realize the value of caring for the environment. In the story, Fidel’s animal friends lose their forest home and it is up to Fidel to do something about it.  Meanwhile, the title character in Precious , confronts her teasing friends but with a surprising twist.   Precious takes on the serious topic of adoption with a positive, light-hearted touch, and children get to hear what it means to be adopted through the words of one loving mother.

 

 

During Better World’s March 29 visit to Payatas, Better World members joined third and fourth graders from the Payatas Tres community for a fun day of storytelling, games, and songs. Generous donors provided lunch and snacks for the kids, while mothers from the community helped with cooking and serving.  The children participated enthusiastically in the activities and enjoyed listening to the stories of Precious and Fidel.  Aside from the books’ lessons on adoption and environment, the facilitators were able to use the stories as a springboard to teach the kids about God’s love and friendship.

 

You can avail of Better World’s children’s books for your kids or your school for a small donation, which goes to Better World’s various projects.  You can also donate directly to support free distribution of books to kids in need.  Interested parties may contact us at betterworldmedia@yahoo.com .    

 

 

Kuwentong Dinig

Kuwentong Dinig  is Better World Media’s series of value-oriented children’s stories. The stories were produced as audiobooks on CD as well as in Braille and large print, then distributed to schools throughout the Philippines who serve visually impaired children. 

What Children and Teachers say about Kuwentong Dinig:

“Ang Kuwento ni Juan po ay maganda. Siya ay masaya kahit may kapansanan kasi magkasama silang mag-anak sa isang tahanang puno ng saya at pagmamahalan. Dahil tinutukso siya ng kamag-aral niya, naawa ako pero di niya ito pinapansin dahil mahal naman siya ng magulang niya.”

On Gantimpala “Natuwa po ako dahil sa storia. . .ang ganda po ng storia. masaya po ako dahil si Riana (ang diwatang walang kapangyarihan) . . .ang napili ng reyna.” - CHRISTINE DANIELLE, Grade 1

“Dahil sa istorya na Bertdey Ko natuto ako na maski wala akong handa sa birthday ko pwede pa rin maging masaya.  Masaya na masaya ako dahil sa mga aral sa mga istorya kaya po sana bigyan pa po kami ng marami pang libro.” – REY CHRISTOPHER, Grade 4, Hen. Pio del Pilar Elem. School (click here to read more from Rey and his classmates)

“My pupils are very excited every Friday because every friday we have listening activity and we use the Kuwentong Dinig.  According to them, their favorite story is “Ang Mahahabang Braso ni Pedring.” After listening, we act out the roles of the characters and discuss what lessons they learned from the story.” – Teacher MYRNA DIZON of  Obando Central School

 ”…a great help for our blind pupils!…Thank you! We found the materials helpful for us and we hope you can continue serving our less fortunate children…God bless!”- Teacher ZARITA MIRANAN of  Juan M. Alberto Memorial Elem School SPED Center

“Excellent materials… not only for our visually impaired children but also for our regular class.” – Teacher JENNIFER PARAS of  Gen. Gregorio del Pilar Elem School

KUWENTONG DINIG Update! 

171 schools and counting!  As of November 15, 2007,  Kuwentong Dinig books have been sent to 171 schools around the country. 

The Kuwentong Dinig Project was made possible through a grant by Target Foundation-AMC Manila and through the support of donors, partners, friends and volunteers, including JRS Express (see post below) Dow Chemical Pacific Limited, Resources for the Blind, Goldilocks, Earl Palma’s Recording Studio and many others.

JRS Express Delivers the Gift of Reading   

JRS Express Supports Better World Media’s Kuwentong Dinig Project

JRS Express, one of the nation’s leading courier companies, generously lent its services to Better World Media’s Kuwentong Dinig project, bringing the gift of reading to visually impaired children all over the Philippines.

JRS Express delivered the Kuwentong Dinig sets of audio, Braille and large print books to 87 schools as far north as Tuguegarao and as far south as General Santos and Koronadal in South Cotobato.

Special thanks go to JRS Express’ VP for operations and general manager, Mr. David E. Geronimo and to Ms. Lorena B. Custodio.  

JRS Express Sucat Branch Area Manager Alexander G. Barrinuevo, with Julius Lopez, Noel Apostol  and  Better World members showing off the Kuwentong Dinig books for delivery.  

BETTER WORLD MEDIA and TARGET FOUNDATION join hands for KUWENTONG DINIG

Better World Media and Target Foundation offered a pre-Christmas treat to the kids of the Philippine National School for the Blind last December 4, 2006. It was a day of sharing and fun, topped off with the presentation of two new Kuwentong Dinig audiobooks to the school.

Better World Media launched Kuwentong Dinig in an effort to bring the wonder of storytelling to visually-impaired children who often have limited access to books and other reading materials. The original children’s stories, all value-oriented and written in Filipino, are recorded in audio format and accompanied by Braille and large print versions of the text.

In a ceremony last June, the Philippine National School for the Blind became the first recipient of a Kuwentong Dinig audiobook, Juan, recorded through the help of Dow Chemical Pacific Limited. Juan, written by Cynthia Cruz-Paz, is the story of a young boy, born with a clubfoot, who learns that a person’s value is not measured by abilities or disabilities but by what is in the heart.

Together with Target Foundation’s International Grant Program, through its Philippine sourcing service, Target Sourcing Services-AMC Manila, Better World continues to bring imaginative stories and valuable lessons to children. Target Foundation’s grant for Kuwentong Dinig is facilitating the recording of 5 additional stories and distribution of the entire set to 151 schools for visually impaired children across the country.  

                           

The books in the Kuwentong Dinig series are recorded by voice talents from some of the most popular Asian tele-seryes and anime series. Gantimpala and Bertdey Ko, which were presented by Target and Better World during the December 4 festivities, feature the voices of Rose Marie Barin, Grace Cornel and Rowena Raganit, while Vincent Gutierrez, Candice Arellano and Albert Nino Reyes help bring other Kuwentong Dinig stories to life.  These voice actors have played prominent roles in popular series such as Jewel in the Palace, A Rosy Life, Ghostfighter and Stairway to Heaven among others.         

These stories and others will be made accessible to visually impaired children all over the Philippines in time for the next schoolyear.Target Foundation, whose motto is “making a difference every day” is surely making a difference in the lives of these special children.

Better World would also like to thank Goldilocks Bakeshops, Earl Palma’s studios and all its generous donors and volunteers.