Over four decades of living up to its mission “to help people help themselves,” the Angelo King Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) has focused on a new program that will give mobility to workers.
The program – Bicycles for Livelihood – is aimed to improve the quality of life of the members of its partner organizations. The AKFI donated last week 700 bicycles to various organizations, each one assigned to workers who need help to get to their workplaces.
“Those who will receive the AKFI bicycle will save at least P150 a day which will sum up to approximately P45,000 to 50,000 of savings in a year which they can use for their other more urgent needs instead,” AKFI President Teddy Kingsu said.
The two-year COVID-19 pandemic has also caused a strain, with many having difficulty trying to make ends meet, and even losing their jobs. This concern has been the anchor for the team, leading to the donation of a total of 700 bicycles this year—200 units through JCI Senate Philippines Foundation, Inc. and 500 units to chosen AKFI partners, he explained.
He also noted that using a bicycle to commute can help save time as well. Going home to their loved ones is faster, making them reach home in time for dinner and spending more quality time with their family.
The "Bicycle for Livelihood" program was originally aimed to help the medical frontliners and displaced workers who had difficulty in going to work because of the irregular operations of many bus companies during the various levels of restrictions.
"The program was supposed to be implemented in early February but the shipment was delayed. Now, the gas prices have increased with the ongoing war in Ukraine. Thus, the same frontliners and workers continue to be negatively impacted," he said.
Soon after the turnover of the bicycles, Mr. Kingsu announced that the foundation will continue this program that will give mobility to workers, as well as help them save on transportation expenses.
AKFI’s major program to help alleviate poverty focuses on education, giving scholarships to deserving students. The scholarship program also provides financial assistance to learning institutions which seek to develop leaders and development workers.
In the recent months since the pandemic began, the foundation has been busy continuing its other projects in partnership with KAISA Heritage Foundation, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Manila Adventist Medical Center, GMA 7 Kapuso Foundation, and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation Philippines, among others.
New projects were also started under the Gift of Love banner spearheaded by the next generation of AKFI members in training. The first project focused on health and wellness. In collaboration with Manila Adventist Medical Center—Manila, free webinars were conducted to help those who have health-related questions but could not leave the house because of restrictions in movement to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Another project, which is ongoing, is the donation of various high-capacity air purifiers with seven stages of filters (with carbon, HEPA-filter, and UV light) to hospitals and schools especially with the coming face-to-face classes in many learning institutions.