Patrick Larraga, Sony Ericsson Marketing Manager talks about “I-Share ang Saya,” a campaign to support UNICEF’s Mobile Education and Child Protection Program. (CHERYL T. BALDICANTOS)

CEBU CITY — After the success of its “Spread the Smiles” campaign that helped a number of poor children nationwide continue their education, Sony Ericsson and Ericsson Philippines together with SM Supermalls and UNICEF has joined hands again in launching a mobile education drive, which also seeks to strengthen a program for the protection of children.

Patrick Larraga, Sony Ericsson Marketing Manager in the recent Cebu launch of the “I-Share ang Saya,” which is a new campaign in support of UNICEF’s mobile education program, said Sony Ericsson and its sister company, Ericsson Telecommunications, Inc. Philippines will be donating P1 million for a mobile education van.

Larraga explained that the said vehicle will be equipped with a laptop and mobile broadband access, plus other communication equipment to help facilitate sessions in the streets led by trained street educators and social workers..

“Through this corporate social responsibility activity, we hope children will have better access to education, skills training, counseling and social services,” he said.

He added that the project hopes to help prevent violence and abuse, by getting children off streets and giving parents or caregivers more support.

Larraga disclosed that the mobile education and protection program for street children is an innovative approach that involves the local government and non-government organizations (NGOs) working to give these children a second chance. The NGO partner for this particular program is the Lingap Pangkabataan Inc.

The NGO employs trained street educators and social workers to provide support services like counseling, parenting sessions for adults and caregivers, reintegration or mainstreaming of street children to formal school or referral to Alternative Learning Sessions (ALS) and vocational skills training programs.