Participants of the first WINGS Asia Pacific Peer Learning Event after a welcome dinner hosted by APPC.
On 27 to 29 April, the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium hosted the first regional Peer Learning Event (PLE) of the Worldwide Initiative for Grantmakers’ Support. Held in Hong Kong, the two and a half day event was attended by 14 WINGS network participants from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. The hosting of the event is aligned with the objectives of APPC’s Corporate Philanthropy Program; that of convening leaders of organizations involved in corporate philanthropy in Asia Pacific to discuss issues and share ideas on how to do better philanthropy.
The session’s theme was “Engaging Corporations” where participants discussed the further promotion of the value of corporate social responsibility and corporate giving. Particularly, the discussions examined ongoing initiatives of WINGS network participants in the Asia Pacific region that are of interest and value to corporations, collectively analyzed issues and identified opportunities for grantmaker associations and support organizations to enhance services to corporations. Participants were also asked to develop action plans on how to tangibly apply the insights and learning from other Asia Pacific organizations into their own.
APPC Board Member Darwin Chen officially welcomed participants to the PLE and deemed the event relevant to corporations in Asia as the region currently faces a financial crisis.
Results of the PLE and resource materials from participants will be used to update and expand the Internet-based “mapping exercise” that was done by WINGS in 2007 regarding the definitions, concepts and practices of CSR and corporate initiatives worldwide.
APPC has been WINGS’ host organization in Manila since January 2007.