More than just initiatives: Shell Pilipinas establishes long-term success through uplifting communities

Reaching out to communities and helping people in need takes more than just effort. It also includes having reliable resources and sustainable programs that cultivate resilience. Long-term aid such as sustainable livelihood initiatives are deemed to be more beneficial for communities compared to temporary relief efforts as they provide individuals with the skills, resources, and opportunities.. Various projects such as small-scale enterprises, community-based agriculture, and eco-tourism ventures enable people to have a consistent income, breaking the generational cycle of poverty.

Through initiatives that empower and teach communities to take charge of their progress and development such as livelihood training, scholarship programs, fair trade partnerships, community health check-ups, and vocational workshops, individuals also begin to rely on what they learned, not just on what has been given to them. One of the companies that has been dedicated to improving the lives of Filipinos is Shell Pilipinas Corporation. Along with its social arm, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI), in partnership with other foundations or NGOs, Shell aligns different initiatives with their commitment to fostering community resilience and empowering Filipinos.

With the goal to contribute to the well-being of neighboring communities where Shell operates, the company puts effort into conducting various training and programs for different sectors. Their strategic social movement together with PSFI targets creating spaces for businesses to operate and grow, as well as to contribute to communities and national development. Shell actively drives sustainable initiatives covering industries such as education, enterprise development, skills training, road safety, disaster response, and access to energy.

Strengthening education for the youth

With the Shell NXplorers program which is designed to equip young minds with the skills to address complex challenges through innovative thinking, Shell emphasizes the development of critical, creative, and systems thinking, preparing students and educators to analyze and solve real-world problems.. It also molds young individuals into future STEM professionals and leaders through comprehensive tools and skills.

Shell NXplorers, started in the Philippines in 2019 and since then has trained more than 3000 students and teachers and noted a significant improvement in creative problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication among the participants.

Shell Pilipinas also makes an impact through the Shell-PhilDev Scholarship program, a multi-year, performance-based college scholarship program, awarded to students from selected partner universities across the nation who are entering their second year of Science and Engineering education. It is implemented by the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the Science and Technology Foundation Manila. Inc. (PhilDev). To date, 95 percent of scholars have gained employment in various industries or managed their own business.

Driving potential through enterprise development and training

For enterprise development and community skills training, Shell takes pride in their flagship initiativesShell LiveWIRE and the Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) programs, which aims to enhance market access and address unemployment through technical-vocational training. Shell LiveWIRE, an enterprise development program launched at the height of the pandemic in 2020, aims to strengthen local economies by promoting entrepreneurship, driving innovation, and generating meaningful employment opportunities. Through this initiative, more than 1000 jobs were generated, around 150 start-ups supported , and 14 businesses were integrated in the Shell supply chain.

Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL)

“At its very core, Shell LiveWIRE remains committed in its vision of promoting local growth by empowering individuals and communities. This is why it remains our flagship development program,” said Serge Bernal, Vice President for Corporate Relations at Shell Pilipinas Corporation.

Meanwhile, SKIL addresses youth unemployment by providing technical training for out-of-school youth by collaborating with educational institutions and industry partners. The training in the program enables scholars to land and secure employment immediately after completing the training. The program eventually evolved to tackle broader needs by serving as a platform for community members to upgrade existing skills or gain new ones. Since its inception in 1982, PSFI was able to reach more than 6,800 out-of-shool youth and helped them gain productive skills for employment or enterprise development.

Prioritizing safety and access to energy

Shell also prioritizes road safety through the BiyaHero (Be-A-Hero on the Road) Program. BiyaHero seeks to raise awareness and equip communities with knowledge and other necessary interventions on road safety to prevent accidents and prepare individuals in cases of emergency. To effectively cascade initiatives, Shell also partnered with the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP). BiyaHero empowers community volunteers, including the Boy Scout of the Philippines, to become Road Safety Mentors who promote and practice road safety for pedestrians, commuters, and drivers which have now reached more than 24,000 road users.

In response to disaster resilience, Shell’s Project Shelter, an ongoing initiative focused on supporting communities affected by calamities, leads the effort to help families and individuals hit by typhoons and earthquakes. This initiative is complemented by the Disaster Response Network (DRN) program that provides continuous assistance throughout the year.

Furthermore, Shell empowers communities by granting them access to affordable, cleaner, and more efficient energy solutions through the Save, Invest, Nurture Access to Green Energy and Technologies (SINAG) Project. This initiative aims to prioritize underserved communities in remote areas in alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. This project makes use of innovative strategies by incorporating a mix of solar, hydro, wind, and diesel generators to form microgrids and compact, self-sustaining energy systems that supply power. SINAG was able to enhance energy access in rural areas in Palawan with the use of renewable energy sources.

Providing volunteering opportunities for employees

Shell also engages its employees through Shell ACTS (A Community That Serves), a platform that connects Shell and its partners to community programs that provide them with opportunities to participate as a volunteer.