25 women of Barangay MacArthur in Tabon-tabon, Leyte are now into the sewing business after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) extended support to them in the form of training, a starter kit, and funding to buy ten units of sewing machine.
They were organized into an association by the Kalahi CIDSS Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran Sa Barangay (Kalahi CIDSS KKB) after the beneficiaries identified livelihood as their most pressing need.
Clarissa Calibao, once a Kalahi CIDSS Volunteer turned Barangay Nutrition Scholar says, “Binigyan kami ng konsepto ng Kalahi CIDSS na ang kababaihan ay mayroong magagawa, hindi lang sa tahanan kundi pati sa lipunan. Dati ay simpleng maybahay lang ako pero ngayon ay aktibong nakikilahok na sa aming barangay.. Dito ngayon sa aming women’s association ay nagkakaisa kami para sa kaunlaran.. ”
[Kalahi CIDSS gives us the concept that women can contribute not only in the household but also in the society. Before I was only a plain housewife and I am now active in involving myself in barangay activities..Now in our women’s association, we are united in the pursuit of development].
She believes that Kalahi CIDSS made them realized that women should not be confined within their homes. But for her, it is not really the income that they get that matters most, but the idea of being able to work together with other women in pursuit of development.
The members of the association are currently capable of sewing pillow cases, curtains, and even school uniforms.
KKB focuses on supporting livelihood related priorities of communities that generate and diversify income of households in the community using the Community-Driven Development or CDD approach. It helps poor members of the family develop their training skills and help them earn income for their daily needs.
In Region VIII, the municipalities of Tabon- tabon in Leyte and Bontoc in Southern Leyte have identified sewing as their project and Catubig in Northern Samar have has prioritized sewing as their project.
DSWD has these beneficiaries to help their families gain additional income.#