NEW Pathways to Enterprise TM Learning to Livelihood (L2L) Program March 2016 Report by Christine Nielsen, President Within a three week period (March 3 22, including several days of travel), 180 benefited from NEW Pathways Learning to Livelihoood (L2L) program Level 4: Business Start-up with IMPACT. For graduates of our IdeaShop series (Levels 1-3) on Samar and Negros Islands, NEW Pathways carried out a pilot luxury fashion project in collaboration with Bali Fashion Group, an organization working with women in poor communities in Indonesia. Fashion designer, Stacy Stube, a young entrepreneur residing in Indonesia, and a University of Baltimore graduate, offered training to build on our participants previous training in textiles, including weaving, crochet, and macramé. Fashion products, including a crocheted dress/summer cover-up, and accessories such as crocheted roses, handbags, and headbands were designed and created by women on Samar and Negros Islands. Dates and Summary NEW Pathways Learning to Livelihood Program in Action March 2016 March 7-11: Luxury Fashion Training in Barangay Cal-igang, Northern Samar Participants: 47 members of the Caligang Handicraft Making Association. Entering Cal-igang crossing the new plank bridge on foot (no vehicles allowed). This covered foot bridge was completed with the assistance of the U.S. government, following Typhoon Nona in December 2015, which left 65,000 homeless in Northern Samar, including all inhabitants of Cal-igang. Creation of the crochet dresses required: 1) Stripping 6 meters of fabric; 2) Pulling excess fabric and strings; 3) Rolling into balls; 4) Crocheting all strips using basic chain stitch; 5) Hand Sewing; 6) Attaching sections to pattern for final fit. From left: Danielle Martin, UB student assistant; Stacy Stube, fashion designer/trainer; Nelly Nacino, President, Mother and Child Assoc. in Metro-Manila, and training assistant; Renia Velacio, President of the Caligang Handicraft Making Assoc.; Joseph Guevarra, Assistant Manager, Client Services Division; Christine Nielsen, President, NEW Pathways. Cal-igang as viewed from the far side of the bridge. * The Learning to Livelihood Program consists of 4 levels: IdeaShop Level 1: Business Idea Generation; IdeaShop Level 2: Livelihood Skill Training; IdeaShop Level 3: Business Skills Training; Level 4: Business Start-Up and Development. ** A barangay (brgy.) is the smallest governmental unit in the Philippines, referring to the village/community level.
Clarissa C., NEW Pathways participant, pictured here with Stacy Stube: When NEW Pathways arrived in our barangay, we didn t have any livelihood so they taught us to develop our skills so that we could help our families, especially for our daily expenses. After a couple of months we were able to sell doormats and bags that helps us with our daily expenses. But after some months, everything was gone because of Typhoon Nona. All our livelihoods were wiped out by floods. Our livelihood and materials, including the coconut trees, and the livestock, sources of our livelihood. It seems that we lost hope that we could recover. Then after 3 months NEW Pathways came again. And now they give us a new skill. Now we are recovering because of the new skills given to us. NEW Pathways: Very, very thank you because you are the one that taught us that we have the capacity we didn t know we had. Thank you very much, especially to Dr. Christine and all members of NEW Pathways. Because of NEW Pathways we have new hope and livelihood here in our barangay Cal-igang.
Meanwhile, on March 10: Chris and Joseph drove across the mountains to barangay Danao-1 to plan for IMPACT! Participants: 34 members of Nagkaurusa Nga Kababayen-An san Danao 1 (NAKADA), NEW Pathways community of hog-raisers. Henelyn O., President of NAKADA, pictured here with Christine Nielsen. Integrated Management for Piggery And Current Technology 1. Facilities system with housing (technical assistance) 2. Food; latest nutrition (sagmaw) 3. Sanitation & waste recycling (biogas, etc.) 4. Markeing & sales assistance 5. Leadership & governance training (Registration with the Department of Labor and Employment- DOLE) March 12-13: Travel from Samar Island to Manila, Luzon Island with an opportunity to seek advice from Bob Guerrero, marketing expert, regarding branding and packaging of barangay Sagua Banwa s soap-making business, then on to Bacolod, Negros Island!
March 14 18: Luxury Fashion Training for Barangay Tabao Proper at the Presbitero Ancestral Home, Gimoy, San Enrique, Negros Occidental Participants: 17 members drawn from the Tabao Proper Macrame & Weaving Women s Association, and the Bagumbayan Crochet Women s Association learned the process of luxury fashion beading on lace from Danielle Martin, trainer; Stacy Stube, fashion designer; and Nelly Nacino, assistant. Nelly Nacion, left, with participant. Corazon F., President of the Tabao Proper Macrame & Weaving Women s Association, pictured here with Stacy Stube, proudly exhibiting the first handbeaded lace dress created during our pilot luxury fashion training. March 15: NEW Pathways launches Integrated Marketing Performance AND Commercial Transactions (IMPACT) with leadership meeting for 7 barangays Participants: 21 leaders (president, treasurer, marketing officer) from Alijis, Bagumbayan, Central Tabao, Doldol, Malingin, Sagua Banwa, and Tabao Proper; and Valladolid IdeaShops for Empowering Women (VIEW) team: Christine Nielsen, Shirley Nacion, municipal councilor; Joseph Guevarra, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation; Gerin Vergara, Department of Trade & Industry; Arman Pedro, Doldol brgy councilor.
March 16 18: IMPACT launch continues with Chris s meetings with IdeaShop graduates in barangays Alijis, Central Tabao, and Sagua Banwa Participants: 36 IdeaShop Graduates The IMPACT program is expanding Learning to Livelihood Level 4: Business Start-up phase to assist IdeaShop graduates through the critical transition from start-up to sustainable business. IMPACT supports our graduates in their efforts to: Develop Product Strategy and Procurement Processes Develop Pricing and Promotion Strategies Develop Comprehensive Business Plans, including Financial Management Determine Resource Gaps NEW Pathways provides grants to Livelihood Associations (LAs) established in each of our communities to overcome resource gaps, such as the need for marketing consultancies, additional equipment or training. March 19: Luxury Fashion Training for Barangays Doldol and Malingin, held in the Doldol s nursery school Above: Soap-makers of Sagua Banwa with Arman Pedro (far left). Below: Rice product bakers of Alijis with Grace Teodosio, brgy councilor (far left); Shirley Nacion, Valladolid municipal councilor; and Chris Nielsen (far right, first row). Vilma, an IdeaShop graduate, created this innovation for Central Tabao s table-top looms to include a higher castle and foot pedals. Constructed by her husband, Rodolfo, this innovation is a perfect example of the type of grants NEW Pathways will provide through its IMPACT program, allowing all members of the Central Tabao LA to benefit. Participants: 27 members of Barangay Doldol Alliance Towards the Promotion of Environmental Awareness and Community Empowerment (BDATPEACE) Women s Association, and the Malingin Women Association participated in this training in fashion accessories with crochet roses and fabric flowers for headbands and handbags. Far right: Rose Jean and Erica Jane with flower evening bag and purse; Center: Gina with Philippines national flower: the sampagnita handbag. March 20 22: Homeward Bound! Chris, Danielle, Stacy, and Nelly flew from Negros Island to Manila on Luzon Island. Chris flight continued through Guangzhou, China, and eventually to BWI and home!