NEW Pathways to Enterprise Learning to Livelihood (L2L) Program January – March 2017 Report by Christine Nielsen, President

Over 200 women benefited from our projects during this 3-month period

“Over the past year, I have learned much about the fantastic work New Pathways does. My family and I are thrilled to be a part of such a focused, well-run organization that is dedicated to a noble cause.”

Charles McGlynn, PhD, NEW Pathways’ Advisory Council Member Geography, Planning and Sustainability Dept., Rowan University

Dates and Summary NEW Pathways’ Learning to Livelihood Program in Action: January – March 2017 Jan. 5-8: Training team arrives on Negros Island for the NEW Fashion Collection planning sessions and preparations. The NEW Fashion Collection is a project of our Integrated Marketing Performance And Commercial Transactions (IMPACT) program, to extend graduates’ weaving, macramé, and crocheting skills into the luxury fashion market. January’s program included lace beading worskhps and the launch of the Luxury Fashion Rental Gown Business for the Barangay Doldol Alliance Towards the Promotion of Environmental Awareness And Community Empowerment (BDATPEACE). From left: Christine Nielsen and Jayces Garello with lace beading trainers, Nelly Nacino and Jessa Wales

Jayces Christine Corpuz Garello arrived on Negros Island last fall. A UK citizen, and Filipina by birth, she is volunteering her precious time to further the mission of NEW Pathways. During her volunteer service she has assisted in launching our new Learning to Livelihood programs, and coordinated activities with local leaders for business development, and marketing. Recently, Jayces joined our Advisory Council as Director of Volunteer Services.

Jan. 9-14 for Doldol & Malingin; Jan. 16-20 for Tabao Proper & Bagumbayan NEW Fashion Collection; Negros Island Luxury Fashions Lace Beading Workshops Participants: 57 graduates of our L2L IdeaShops (Levels 1-3), participating in L2L Level 4: Integrated Marketing Performance And Commercial Transactions (IMPACT). Attendees from BDATPEACE; Malingin Women’s Association; Barangay Tabao Proper Macrame and Weaving Women’s Association; Valladolid Organized Women & Crochet Association.

Workshops were made possible by NEW Pathways and a cost-sharing grant from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA).

Participants in Doldol with luxury beading trainers, Nelly Nacino and Jessa Wales. Macrame trainer, Lucia Guevarra (not shown) provided advanced macrame skills training to the Tabao Proper members.

* 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.

Jan. 9-14: Preparation and Launch of L2L IdeaShop Level 1: Business Idea Generation on Samar Island Participants: 30 women in the very remote barangay of Mawacat. This program marks the launch of the partnership between NEW Pathways and the Northwest Samar State University, with leadership by Dean Leo Lacaba, College of Management, and his wonderful staff and students who played an important part in the success of this IdeaShop.

Following presentations by entrepreneurs and livelihood experts in food processing, handicrafts, and sewing, interviews with participants revealed that 6 women preferred sewing, while 24 chose to launch a business in food processing by establishing a barangay bakery. NEW Pathways is considering the purchase of a motorized tricycle so the bakery can deliver to larger municipal centers and well as the far-flung neighborhoods of Mawacat.

New Pathways is grateful to Louise Huddleston for her support at the Explorer Level, making it possible for participants to complete IdeaShop Level 1, the foundation of our entrepreneurship program. Photo from left: Christine Nielsen, President, NEW Pathways to Enterprise with Dean Leo Lacaba, local director for the L2L Program, in partnership with Northwest Samar State University. Thus bus and its amazing driver provided our mode of transportation to Mawacat.

Jan. 15: Nagka-orosa na Kababaihan sa Danao-1 (NAKADA – “United Women of Danao-1 Association” Participants: 33 members of NAKADA We discussed their plans for “Integrated Management for Piggery And Current Technology” (IMPACT). Following the meeting, we met with the owner of a 300 sq. meter parcel who is offering to sell this land to us for our model piggery. Photo far right, from left: Henelyn Oben, NAKADA President; C. Nielsen; Merlita Florida, Barangay Capt. and NAKADA member.

Jan. 16-18: Change in Plans due to a Low Pressure Area (LPA) An LPA hung over Samar Island, making it necessary for us to cancel plans for an IMPACT meeting with the 40 plus members of the Cal-igang Handicraft-making Association. The danger of flash floods was real because of the wooden bridge leading into the barangay, and a history of frequent flooding. Plus, the local airport closed. With heavy heart, we left Samar, driving over 4 hours in pouring rain, and crossing the San Juanico Bridge to Tacloban, Leyte Is. With an overnight there, and a short flight to Cebu Is. the next day, followed by another short flight to Negros Island the third day, we made it back to our home away from home at the O Hotel – a trip that usually takes 1 day with flight through Manila!

Jan. 19 morning: Meeting with representatives of MRJ Industrial Distribution, Inc. We discussed terms of a potential licensing agreement with our soap manufacturing community. Dr. Charles McGlynn, Rowan University, NJ, and his daughter (middle photo, far left) arrived with many gowns and party dresses for the Luxury Rental Gowns Fashion Show! From far right: Gina Liman, BDATPEACE President; Lynde Untal, Vice President. Jan. 19 afternoon: In Doldol to deliver gowns and make preparations for the Fashion Show.

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Jan. 20 morning: Meeting with Dean Parocco, Bago City College; Bago City College Offers 20 organic farming scholarships to our participants! 3 NEW Pathways’ graduates representing the Malingin Women’s Association, Joseph Guevarra, Head of Client Services, Negros Women of Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), and the NEW Pathways’ team met to discuss agricultural livelihood options for the remote Malingin Outpost Purok.

Jan. 20 afternoon: Visiting with our Lace Beading Workshop participants At the end of training week, the NEW Pathways team stopped by to view the beautiful works of the Barangay Tabao Proper Macrame and Weaving Women’s Association; and the Valladolid Organized Women & Crochet Association, at the Ancestral home of former Mayor Ricardo Presbitero, Jr., Gimoy, San Enrique. On to Doldol to prepare for the Luxury Fashion Rental Gown Business Launch!

Jan. 20 evening: The Luxury Fashion Rental Gowns Fashion Show at the Doldol annual festival

The professionally-run, high-quality fashion show launched the rental gown business of BDATPEACE with 80 gowns and party dresses donated by NEW Pathways’ partners, including the UUCA, Zonta Club of Annapolis, and Rowan University’s Geography Department, and its Filipino-American Coalition. (From left: Salvacion, BDATPEACE member, and Dr. Charles McGlynn, Rowan University, New Jersey.

Jan. 21 morning: Meeting with Reynic Alo, Executive Director, and his associate, Noel Arellano, of the Multi-sector Alliance for Development Negros (MUAD). MUAD’s feasibility study will assist NEW Pathways in evaluating the potential for a sustainable piggery business for our Danao-1 hog-raisers. Jan. 21 afternoon: The Luxury Fashion Rental Gowns Fashion Show is featured in the afternoon and evening of the Doldol annual festival.. Jan. 22: Orientation to NEW Pathways L2L program in barangay Masaling, municipality of Cuayan, 3 hours south of Bacolod. Participants: 30 women from Masaling puroks (neighborhoods) Based on their positive response, our next L2L program will be launched here, with local leadership provided by NWTF, our local partner on Negros Island.

Jan. 23 morning: Meeting with representatives of MRJ Industrial Distribution, Inc. in Sagua Banwa Participants: 12 members of the Sagua Banwa Women’s Association Lins Cleaning Agents product line was exhibited and discussed with the group. The proposed licensing agreement, enabling Sagua Banwa members to sell Lins Cleaning Agents, was enthusiastically accepted!

NEW Pathways entered a partnership agreement with MRJ Industrial Distribution, making it possible for our soap-makers in Sagua Banwa to increase their income as agents of Lins Cleaning Agents. (Far left is Josepht Guevarra. Head, Client Services, NWTF; far right, first row is MRJ President, Mr. John Jison.)

From left, Joseph Guevarra, NWTF; Christine Nielsen; Linda Muyco, local NWTF coordinator; Jessa Pasco, NWTF; Mr. Muyco; Jayces Garello, NEW Pathways.

Jan. 23 afternoon: Our team visited to Doldol to view the lovely hand-beaded satin bags and lace scarves created during the Luxury Lace Beading Workshop.

Meeting with members of the Alijis Livelihood Association Participants: 7 graduates and neighbors of the L2L IdeaShop series.

Participants have not been able to apply their food processing skills to establish a sustainable business. This brainstorming session revealed several possibilities, including a product that everyone needs: flip flops (referred to locally as “slippers.”) There is no local producer. NEW Pathways will carry out a feasibility study to investigate the sustainability of this business, and if so, offer IdeaShops for slipper-making and business planning.

Jan. 24 morning: Meeting with Dept. of Agrarian Reform representatives This meeting was set up by Dean Parroco and NWTF to explore how the Dept. could assist our poor farm tenants in Outpost Purok, Malingin. January 24 afternoon: Meetings with members of the Valladolid Loom Weavers Association (VALWA) Participants: 10 members of VALWA in Bagumbayan; 5 members in Central Tabao.

Jan. 25-26: Homeward Bound! Chris flew from Bacolod, Negros Island, through Manila, Luzon Island, to Taipei, Taiwan, and on to Los Angeles, then to Phoenix, Arizona to visit family!

March 20: A sample loom stand has been designed for VALWA, as requested by members. Local carpenters (sons of Vilma Deloso, NEW Pathways’ graduate), are constructing the loom stand. The stand will be available to all IdeaShop weavers in Valladolid. This advancement is made possible through NEW Pathways and a cost-sharing grant from the Shenandoah Fiber Festival.

March 29, 30, and 31: Achieving our Livelihood Goals through Good Governance & Active Leader-Followership Participants: L2L IdeaShop graduates in Valladolid, Negros Occidental This day-long IdeaShop is being held for L2L IdeaShop series graduates who are members of BDATPEACE (Doldol), Barangay Tabao Proper Macrame and Weaving Women’s Association (Tabao Proper) and VALWA (Central Tabao and Bagumbayan). The purpose is to empower their Livelihood Associations (LAs) and the democratic process of decision-making through governance & leadership training. This program is made possible through NEW Pathways and a cost-sharing grant from the UUCA. This program is presented by Joseph Guevarra, Head, Client Services, NWTF, and Jayces Garello, Director of Volunteer Services, NEW Pathways to Enterprise.