In line with National Women’s Month to be celebrated in March, Diageo celebrated the success of Plan W, a women empowerment program the globally successful alcoholic beverage company launched in September 2015.
“In Diageo, we believe in celebrating life everyday, everywhere, and part of that is about empowering women. We believe in it so much that we’ve made a part of our DNA,” explains Jon Good, Diageo general manager. He continues by saying that “when we talk about celebrating life everyday, everywhere, it’s also about enriching the communities women live in.”
(Diageo general manager Jon Good telling guests about Project W)
Plan W is in effect in more than a dozen countries, and Diageo works to find the most relevant and relatable approach to the project’s implementation. When they thought about the Philippines, the light bulb moment came rather easily; all across the country, the love for singing is apparent.
Plan W in the Philippines then partnered with Sing Philippines, sponsoring an intensive seven-day training course at UP Diliman for 34 female vocal teachers from across the Philippines. The aim was to give them a solid foundation in training, organizing, sustaining and nurturing choirs. These women are now back in their respective communities developing their own choirs and a few of these choirs have, in fact, begun joining and winning in national competitions.
(The scholars at their culmination concert night)
“Promoting skills, employability, and lifelong learning are keys to empowering women. If you tap into her passion, you give her the power to inspire the people around her, and also show her her capability of building a better future for herself. If she knows that she is a leader in her community, then she will always celebrate and live out this role,” says Jon Good.
To add to the festivities in last night’s event, Diageo dedicated three cocktails to women. The W, a Baileys Espresso Crème Liqueur based drink, was described as cool and modest but strong on the inside like the women they’ve empowered. The Plan W Blue which is infused with CÃŽROC Vodka was likened to the hearts of Plan W women – gentle, and soft on the palate. The third and surely not the least was The Golden Voice with Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve as its base to celebrate the overall successes of the program.
Diageo is the first beverage alcohol company to sign the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles globally.
(The Golden Voice)
