Volkswagen PH Champions Child Care

Volkswagen has been around as early as 1937. It's been known as the "People's Car" the world over. And like the "People's Champ" Manny Pacquiao who has championed, not just in the ring, but off it as well, the German automaker, for its part, also won the hearts of many.

In fact, among the stables of the top ten all-time best-selling global cars compiled by the website 24/7 Wall St., three Volkswagen cars are included: the Golf, Beetle and the Passat.

Off the cutthroat boxing ring of revving engines, the carmaker is also a winner. Recently, Volkswagen Philippines, in particular, provided underprivileged children a chance for a better future by donating violins and cellos to the pupils of the Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education (Centex) in Tondo, Manila.

Centex is a project of Ayala Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), other corporate sponsors and local government units that aims to provide bright but economically disadvantaged children with primary education comparable to that of the best schools in the country. Currently, there are two Centex schools, one in Tondo, Manila and the other in Bauan, Batangas.

“For our CSR projects, we have chosen to go into one of the most basic foundations of society, and that is the care of the ones that we love the most—our children,” VW PH President and CEO John Philip Orbeta said during the ceremonial turnover of donation last May 12 at VW BGC showroom in Taguig City.

The donation of 21 violins and two cellos were turned over to deserving Centex students.

“Playing musical instruments, has countless benefits for children; it increases their learning ability and is an effective way of building team work and confidence,” Orbeta further explained.

The turn-over ceremony was attended by Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan and Senior Director for Programs Rowena Lopez.

Ayala Foundation, the social development arm of Ayala Corporation, has four key program areas, namely Youth Leadership, Sustainable Livelihood, Arts and Culture, and, Education. For this reason, VW PH has chosen this special project as their second corporate social responsibility activity for the year.

Hence, it was to be remembered that Volkswagen's first CSR project geared toward child welfare was announced during the recent Manila International Auto Show last month with the launch of the Child Safety Initiative (CSI) campaign.

The on-going campaign is part of the global CSI strategy of the Wolfsburg-based automaker which already rolled out in various countries around the world. The CSI is based on two main pillars. One is the prevention of accidents by teaching and educating parents and kids about road hazards. The other is the passive safety inside the VW vehicles by using child seats together with the factory standard safety systems like airbags, active collision systems and the ISOFIX child seat fixations.

Included in their MIAS exhibit was a 50-square meter junior driving course area with five VW push cars from Germany which was part of an educational program to teach children the basic rules of road safety.

Here, a professional instructor taught the importance of road safety visuals such as traffic lights,  road signs like STOP, No Entry, School Zone, Pedestrian Crossing, No Right Turn, and, Left Turn Only, among others.  After completion of the driving course, a junior driver’s license was issued.

“We cannot control the people on the road, or outside the car. But what we can do is educate them. This is what we want to do now,” says Klaus Schadewald, Volkswagen PH chief operating adviser.

Meanwhile, the child seat corner, featured three display units of VW Child Seat Genuine Accessories. These safety equipment have developed a range of child seats that allow babies and small children to travel with maximum safety.  VW child seats are available in three classes:  (1) for  babies from 0 to 15 months old (2) for children from 8 months to 4 years old, and, (3) for children from 3 to 8 years old.

These seats are crash-tested and come with official releases from the German TUV (Technical Inspection Association) and various international safety organizations.

All VW PH vehicles (except for the Polo Sedan 1.6 TDI) are equipped with ISOFIX, an international standard designed to ensure that child‘s car seat is fitted easily and securely. ISOFIX is being adopted worldwide as a safer way to travel with children.

Indeed, with their eyes fixed not only on their cars, but on other people, particularly children, the German automaker is deemed an instant world titleholder—in fact, miles better than, say, the recently hailed pound-for-pound king of the ring.

Text and photos contributed by: Ronald Delos Reyes