Biz school lets light ‘shine on’ local charity that ‘sparks’ hope in education

BULACAN, Philippines — For long-time education and innovation advocate Katy Montgomery, companies could go beyond reaping profits and bring about positive social transformation by turning ventures into forces of change.

This mindset was the core of Singapore-based French graduate business school INSEAD, which representatives visited the Philippines on Saturday, May 11, and gave solar panels to Assumption Development Foundation (ADF), an organization that supports poor students in Sapang Palay, San Jose del Monte City in this province.

Montgomery, the associate dean of INSEAD’s Degree Programmes, believes “businesses could be a force for good” – a reason why “Project Shine On” came to life. A brainchild of Fergus Kennedy of the Career Development Centre at INSEAD and the INSEAD Energy Club, Project Shine On was a way of giving back to communities. It was a joint effort between INSEAD, JJ-Lapp Cable, and the Zenises Foundation.

Aside from Project Shine On, INSEAD had also launched a broader “Force for Good” campaign in October 2018 with the goal of accelerating the school’s mission to develop the next generation of global leaders who will transform the world’s future.

Delegates from INSEAD Singapore together with Assumption Development Foundation founders Fr. Edward Kelly and Minda Santiago. (Photo by Oyo Bunag)

Renewable energy for communities

On May 11, some ADF scholars and alumni, including this writer, welcomed Montgomery, Kennedy, Mark Johnson, and four other students and one alumnus of INSEAD Singapore.

INSEAD Energy Club vice president Stanley Sun said Project Shine On has allowed him to fulfill two of his passions in life: “giving back” and “delivering renewable energy to communities across Asia.”

“It is up to the next generation of leader’s – no matter where they are from – to be the change agents when it comes to renewable energy and clean technology. We hope that this project can be a shining example of what is possible,” Sun noted.

Installation of solar panels. (Photo by INSEAD)

INSEAD donated solar panels that would provide electricity to three buildings in ADF. Apart from this, Montgomery conveyed inspiration and added know-how to ADF graduates and scholars in Junior and Senior High by giving a talk on personal branding, relationship building, and preparing for/facing interviews.

Hope in education

It is the third time Kennedy visited ADF and each time “feels like an injection of positivity,” he said. This is also the reason why he decided to introduce the foundation to his colleagues and students at INSEAD for Project Shine On.

“ADF really walks the walk when trying to effect change for good,” Kennedy pointed out.

Fergus Kennedy of INSEAD delivering a speech before ADF students and graduates. (Photo by Oyo Bunag)

Established in 1995, ADF lives by the mission of breaking the cycle of poverty in one of the Philippines’ poorest communities through education. It provides scholarships to qualified students from elementary thru college. Founded by an Irish Carmelite missionary-priest Edward Alban Kelly and his wife Minda Santiago-Kelly, ADF has so far helped more than 840 combined high school and college students.

Abiding by “love serves” creed, ADF and its alumni have also touched countless lives beyond its organization through numerous initiatives and outreach programs in nearby communities through the years.

Likewise, ADF tirelessly pursues its purpose to “open the minds of the students to believe that they can overcome poverty and that they can become more than they think they can be.”

“The foundation is unique because it goes beyond the financial aspect of the scholarship. It addresses the mindset of hopelessness,” ADF’s site states.

Santiago-Kelly views INSEAD’s renewable energy project as a “blessing” for the foundation. It considers Project Shine On an apt metaphor to ADF’s programs that spark hope and inspiration to people.

“To think they’re willing to come all the way from Singapore is something. It’s also very important for our scholars. Often, we don’t see or appreciate what we’re doing until someone from the outside praises it,” she said.

Santiago-Kelly, however, admitted that renewable energy as a source of electricity remains “alien” in Sapang Palay.

Recent government data showed that the Philippines remain highly dependent on coal as source for electricity generation. According to the Department of Energy, coal power plants generated 46.8 million MWh in 2017 while renewable energy and natural gas contributed 24.6 percent and 21.8 percent, respectively, to the country’s gross power generation. Meanwhile, oil-based power plants supplied the least at 4 percent.

Current estimates from the World Bank put the number of people living without electricity at 1 billion. Of this figure, over 2 million are in the Philippines, INSEAD noted.

One of the solar-powered posts at ADF compound. Photo by INSEAD

Despite these realities, Santiago-Kelly hopes that with INSEAD’s initiative, their students would “understand better the importance of taking care of our planet.”

She said ADF plans to launch green and minimalist projects this year as a way to return the favor it received from INSEAD’s renewable energy project.

Montgomery said they were “delighted to help deliver new forms of energy” and “ensure that the amazing work of ADF can go even further.”

The INSEAD Singapore team together with Assumption Development Foundation scholars and alumni in Bulacan. (Photo by INSEAD)

(Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)