Livelihood Training

Many of the parents of children enrolled in Together in Hope preschools and kindergarten classes lack formal education and are unemployed.  The unemployment rate in the Philippines is over 5 percent which means that over 2.39 million Filipinos are unemployed.  In the squatter communities where Together in Hope works, Together in Hope has established livelihood cooperatives in conversation with community members.  The cooperatives design and create products, train community members to make them, equip participants with needed tools, and market these products to generate an income for participants and their families.  Among the products produced are bags, rugs, candles, food products such as pili nut candies, and jewelry.  A sewing program has been developed for the women in Upper Javier and Bicol, allowing the women to make school uniforms and other sewing products for sale in the markets.  Most participants are eventually able to purchase a sewing machine to start their own business or gain the skills necessary to obtain a sewing job.