SPARK Philippines and the Government of the United States (US) successfully accomplished its mission of training aspiring women entrepreneurs in Tagbilaran City and the Municipality of Balilihan. The two-month program spearheaded by the US Government provided an educational opportunity for enterprising women from diverse communities.
The 10-module learning engagement equipped the would-be women entrepreneurs with skills in business plan formulation, organization, marketing, management, basic accounting, promotions, product packaging, networking, and sales pitch.
Together with the Tagbilaran Community Livelihood and Development Unit (TLCDU), Coordinators in Bohol led by Chocolate Princess Dalareich Polot and Joy Marie Co organized the event with the session speakers Queenie Melody Fullante, Clareziel Ladringan, Queenie Maria Escobilla Guibao, and Marc Batoy delivering the lectures via face-to-face arrangement and online sessions.
On January 27, thirty women completed the course and had its graduation ceremony in the Saulog Gymnasium.
City Mayor Jane Yap congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to never give up on their dreams. The Municipality of Balilihan and Tagbilaran City were the partner LGUs in the Visayas Region chosen for this initiative.
Executive Director for SPARK Philippines Mikaela Teves said the project was also rolled out in Manila and Cebu. It will also open in Zamboanga, Batac, Puerto Princesa, and Iloilo before the year ends.
SPARK Philippines is the US partner-implementor in Bohol and Zamboanga where they will be mainly responsible to identify the beneficiaries and to monitor the training sessions.
Mayor Jane Yap felt blessed and privileged to be a part of this significant initiative, “I am passionate in supporting women. Their role transcends more than just being a helpmate to their husbands. Women’s influence is also crucial in empowering their children. Thus, when you capacitate women, you capacitate the family and therefore capacitate the community as well,” said the lady mayor.
To date, AWE was able to produce 16,000 graduates in more than 90 countries. The initiative is designed to empower women worldwide to fulfill their economic potential, thereby creating conditions for increased stability, security, and prosperity for all. (Jeanette Busano)
