Story by: Christian Given Magaling
Not all contributions to community development happen in front of a crowd.
Some take place quietly, in the careful review of reports, the preservation of lessons, and the thoughtful conversations that help an organization understand what works, what needs to improve, and what communities truly need.
This work may happen away from the spotlight, but its impact can be felt long after a project concludes. It ensures that every achievement, challenge, and lesson becomes part of a larger story of learning and progress.
For Louise Victoria Zaide, Program Excellence Officer at Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), this is where purpose often begins.
Louise helps PSFI turn experience into knowledge and knowledge into action. Through reporting, research, knowledge management, and organizational learning, she supports the systems that allow programs to grow stronger and become more responsive to the people they serve.
Her connection to the Foundation, however, began long before she became a member of its staff.
Coming Full Circle
Only two months after completing her bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Louise joined PSFI. At the time, she had not imagined building a career in corporate social responsibility.
The opportunity came unexpectedly when her thesis adviser shared a list of job openings. Encouraged by her parents, both former Shell employees, she decided to apply.
But Louise was not entirely new to PSFI. Before becoming an employee, she had been a Shell Employee Dependents Scholarship Program (SEDSP) scholar. She first experienced the Foundation not from behind a desk, but as a young person given an opportunity to pursue her education.
For her, joining PSFI felt like coming full circle.
“I was already familiar with PSFI in passing as a SEDSP scholar, so it only felt right to pay it forward.”
Entering the workplace as a fresh graduate was intimidating. Meeting an entire organization at once made her uncertain about whether she would immediately find her place. Those worries soon faded because of the people who welcomed her.
What makes PSFI different to me is truly the people. As a fresh graduate, I was very intimidated meeting everyone all at once, but they were all very welcoming and willing to support.
One of the experiences that strengthened her connection to the organization was an SDAP training, where she heard program officers speak about their work in communities.
Through conversations with colleagues such as Ate E, Louise saw how deeply PSFI staff cared about the people behind the programs. They celebrated scholars’ graduations, supported families through difficult moments, and continuously advocated for improvements that could create better opportunities for beneficiaries.
These stories showed Louise that PSFI was more than an organization implementing development programs. It was a community of people who carried the mission personally.
The “AL” in MEAL
When Louise began working at PSFI, explaining her role was not always easy. Some people assumed that her work was related to human resources, but her responsibilities centered on a different kind of organizational support.
Louise jokingly describes herself as the “AL in MEAL,” focusing on accountability and learning. She reviews and consolidates reports for funders, manages commissioned studies, preserves institutional knowledge, and facilitates activities where colleagues can exchange insights across programs.
Because her responsibilities intersect with different teams, she playfully calls herself the organization’s “ampon ng lahat ng team.”
There is no single routine that defines her days. She may spend one day reviewing program reports and research outputs, then another improving knowledge systems or searching through archives to preserve PSFI’s historical data. At other times, she joins planning sessions, coordinates learning activities, or helps colleagues turn their experiences into insights that can guide future work.
Much of this happens quietly.
I think most people would be surprised at how ‘quiet’ my work can be.
But quiet does not mean insignificant.
The systems Louise helps strengthen allow information to remain organized, accessible, and useful. By documenting lessons and preserving institutional memory, she helps ensure that knowledge does not disappear when an activity ends or when a project enters a new phase.
Her work allows past experiences to inform future decisions, helping PSFI serve communities with greater understanding and intention.
Seeing the Lives Behind the Numbers
Although much of Louise’s work takes place behind a desk, some of her most meaningful experiences happen when she steps away from reports, archives, and spreadsheets and spends time with the people represented in them.
“While seeing big numbers and 100% achievement on reports and indicators is impressive, the stories behind those numbers are what truly give the work meaning.”
One experience that remains close to her heart was facilitating LEAD workshops for MSP-TVC scholars. While facilitation is not the primary focus of her role, the sessions gave her an opportunity to listen to young people speak openly about their lives.
They shared stories of heartbreak, family struggles, uncertainty, and their hopes for the future. In those conversations, the figures Louise encountered in reports became personal. Numbers became names, faces, dreams, and journeys that were still unfolding.
These moments deepened her understanding of the programs she supports. They reminded her that behind every indicator is a person whose life cannot be completely captured by a spreadsheet.
Louise continues to follow the journeys of the scholars she meets, finding joy in seeing them reach important milestones.
I am always grateful when I get to attend their graduation and see them off on the next chapter of their journey.
For Louise, these occasions reveal the deeper purpose of the systems and processes she helps maintain. Each report is not simply a requirement. It is a record of people moving forward, one decision and one opportunity at a time.
Lessons from an Unfinished Story
Not every story in development work follows the path people expect.
Among the many stories Louise has encountered, one that stayed with her was about a scholar whose journey unfolded differently from what those supporting her had envisioned.
Louise learned about the young woman through colleagues who had worked closely with her family. Despite receiving guidance and opportunities, the scholar experienced personal struggles and later became pregnant after graduation. Her circumstances prompted staff to reflect on how they could continue supporting beneficiaries whose lives and decisions may not follow a predictable path.
Louise did not see the young woman’s story simply as a failure. Instead, it raised difficult but necessary questions about personal agency, shared goals, and the limits of what development organizations can decide on behalf of the people they serve.
“Like we teach in the LEAD workshop, we give them the skills and tools they need, but success relies on the person.”
For Louise, the experience reinforced that development work is not about controlling someone’s future. It is about walking alongside people, equipping them with knowledge and opportunities, and respecting that they remain the authors of their own lives.
It reminded me that development work is a matter of facilitation, and outcomes will not be achieved if our goals are not aligned with that of our beneficiaries.
The story also led Louise to reflect on her own journey.
In high school, she nearly lost her scholarship because of declining grades and a lack of discipline. Her teachers offered guidance, but Louise also had to make the personal decision to change. Through renewed effort, she recovered academically and eventually graduated among the top students in her batch.
Her experience taught her that opportunities can open doors, but people must still choose to walk through them. It is a lesson that has made her more thoughtful about how PSFI supports beneficiaries, not by prescribing the lives they should lead, but by helping them recognize what may be possible.
Powered by People
Throughout Louise’s journey, one belief remains constant: meaningful change is never created by one person alone.
For her, PSFI’s 44th anniversary theme, “Driven by Purpose. Powered by People.,” reflects what she witnesses throughout the organization.
We all understand the PSFI Why, but the mission of the organization cannot be achieved without people dedicated to serving their communities, people dedicated to help keep the organization running, and most of all people who believe in the mission of our organization.
She sees this shared purpose in program officers working alongside communities, support teams keeping operations moving, and colleagues exchanging ideas and lessons across programs.
Although Louise’s role often places her behind the scenes, she finds fulfillment in creating space for others to be heard, supported, and recognized.
“I find meaning in helping the organization succeed, in ensuring my colleagues’ ideas and concerns are heard, in being the ‘cheerleader’ that helps drive their success.”
It is the same spirit of support that welcomed her as a fresh graduate. Today, Louise helps extend that support to others, strengthening a culture where people learn from one another and move forward together.
Preserving a Legacy, Strengthening the Future
As PSFI celebrates 44 years of working with communities, Louise is helping preserve the knowledge built throughout that journey.
She takes pride in the systems the Foundation continues to strengthen, from more responsive monitoring mechanisms to a growing collection of historical data and institutional knowledge. These efforts help ensure that the lessons of today remain useful to future generations of PSFI staff and to the communities they will serve.
Looking ahead, Louise hopes the Foundation can deepen its interventions, reach more communities, and continue adapting to increasingly complex development challenges.
This hope is rooted in a belief she has carried from her days as a scholar to her present role as a development professional.
I am driven by purpose, and I choose this work because I believe even just a single person can make a huge difference.
Louise’s contributions may not always be seen from the frontlines, but they are present in every lesson preserved, every colleague supported, and every insight used to build a better program.
Her story reminds us that lasting change is not created only through visible milestones or grand gestures. Sometimes, it begins with someone quietly listening, learning, documenting, and making sure that what has been gained is never lost.
Through that steady and thoughtful work, Louise helps PSFI continue moving forward, driven by purpose and powered by people.
