Over 1,300 volunteers transform century-old school ahead of the new school year

More than just answering calls and supporting customers, employees of TELUS Digital Philippines recently traded their desks for paint brushes and repair tools to help prepare a public school in Manila for the new academic year. What started as a volunteer initiative turned into a large-scale community effort, with over a thousand team members coming together to improve classrooms and learning spaces for thousands of students.

The project highlights a different side of the BPO industry, one where employee engagement extends beyond the workplace and into communities that need support. It also shows how collective action and volunteerism can create a lasting impact for both students and educators ahead of another school year.

More than 1,300 volunteers from TELUS Digital Philippines came together at Jacinto Zamora Elementary School in Manila's Pandacan district to support Brigada Eskwela efforts, helping prepare the 105-year-old campus for the new school year through large-scale refurbishment and improvement of learning spaces.

The initiative is part of the TELUS Days of Giving global volunteer movement and took place at the public school, which serves over 2,000 students. Volunteers, many of whom came straight from their shifts, repainted 71 classrooms, nine hallways, and eight staircases across three buildings, refurbished more than 1,120 student chairs, and completed a mural to revitalize shared spaces. Preparatory repairs, including roofing, windows, and classroom fixtures, to improve the school’s overall condition were also carried out.

The work helps to support the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela, a nationwide program that mobilizes communities to help prepare public schools for the next academic year. This also marks TELUS Digital Philippines’ 12th year of participation, during which more than 21,000 team members have contributed over 100,000 hours of volunteer work to refurbish and improve 15 public schools.

“Many schools across the country continue to face infrastructure and classroom challenges, with a current shortage of an estimated 165,000 classrooms nationwide. Our teams are excited to play a part in creating better learning environments for the next generation, ” said Anne Muñoz, Country Vice President for TELUS Digital Philippines. “Through TELUS Days of Giving, our team members around the world dedicate their time and energy to causes close to their hearts, and supporting Brigada Eskwela is a powerful example of that. Together with local communities, we're helping ensure students return to classrooms that are safe, welcoming, and ready to inspire them to learn. 

For Rajiv M. Dhand, Leader of Global CX and Trust & Safety Operations at TELUS Digital, the strong turnout reflects the power of collective action and shared purpose. “This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the International Year of Volunteers, a recognition of something we see firsthand in days like this: that volunteerism is not just service, but bayanihan. True change does not come from programs or policies alone, it comes from people choosing to show up for one another,” he said. “We’re not just renovating classrooms, we’re reinforcing a message to every student here that their future matters, and that they have a community standing beside them. For these students, this is visible proof that their dreams deserve support. And for all of us, it’s a reminder that we are stronger when we come together with purpose, compassion, and action.”

TELUS Digital Philippines is also preparing for another TELUS Days of Giving activity later this year in support of Brigada Eskwela in Iloilo City, home to two of the company’s sites.

The day's activities at Jacinto Zamora Elementary School are expected to benefit students and faculty throughout the upcoming school year. The initiative demonstrates how collaboration between the private sector, government, and local communities can contribute to improved learning environments and support systems for students.