Forward Together: Empowering People with Disabilities

Imagine you're stuck inside a dark room with tinkling nursery rhymes and a doll inspired by the famous Annabelle doll in Conjuring. What would you do? This was exactly our experience when we accepted the challenge to enter an escape room. FWD Philippines hosted a thrilling yet fun activity held at Mystery Manila last week after the launch of "Forward Together" campaign.

Pan-Asian insurer FWD and non-profit Humanity & Inclusion partners to help hundreds of young people with disabilities in Asia find employment.

Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, Humanity & Inclusion aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, believing that everyone can live in dignity. At present, Humanity & Inclusion works in 59 countries globally, with additional offices in 8 high-income countries.

Through the regional partnership initially announced by the insurer in the first half of 2018, both organizations will work towards advocating equal opportunities and empowering people with disabilities in Asia. With FWD Group investing USD 1million, the Forward Together project will train at least 380 youth with disabilities in the Philippines and Indonesia and help them secure sustainable employment or business opportunities.

Forward Together project, will enable businesses and organizations to become catalysts for quality job creation. FWD Life Philippines and Humanity & Inclusion celebrated the beginning of its Forward Together project with a fun, interactive visual language activity, and escape room challenge participated by volunteers from both organizations as well as members of the media.

Debby's Deb at Mystery Manila

It was my first time at Mystery Manila, although I've tried Breakout Manila sometime last year at least I had an idea what to expect. They are leading Escape Room Games in Manila.

We were divided into several groups for Mystery Manila Escape Room Challenge. I started to feel nervous after learning that we will enter the Debby's Doll room! If you've watched Conjuring - Annabelle, the Doll you will get an idea of what's inside the Mystery Manila Debby's Doll. I personally don't like watching that movie but my husband wants to. We've seen almost all the episodes of Conjuring and other horror films. Afterwards he will frighten me.

Make sure you're not afraid of super dark room and creepy, evil sound effects. You have to look for the keys and take note of the codes. Be ready to meet Debby, the doll at the end of the room. Not bad, we almost solved the mystery.

Congratulations to FWD Philippines and Humanity & Inclusion for the successful partnership. As for the Mystery Manila activity, it was fun!