Visayan Forum conducts livelihood training for former house helpers

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  â€“ Training and marketing strategies for former child domestic workers and their mothers through various livelihood opportunities are being strengthened by the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc (VFFI) in Negros Oriental even if the group now operates on a “skeletal force” nationwide.

VFFI is now facing problem on how to sustain programs and projects for the marginalized workers in the informal sectors and trafficked women and children after allegations were hurled against the foundation on alleged unliquidated funds from its biggest donor, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Dondee Señires and Marlene Pepino of VFFI-Negros Oriental on Friday said there are at least 200 to 500 school children under their care and supervision that have to be sustained and therefore they must find more means of earning some income.

Started last year, the livelihood training has been gaining headway and produced items such as floor mats, shoe coats, mop heads, pot holders, poly-canvass envelope, quilted rags and eco-bags, among others.

At least 20 working students and former domestic house helpers and their mothers, all members of the Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Manggagawang Pantahanan sa Pilipinas (SUMAPI) local chapter, are now involved in the production of these items, said Pepino.

Cloth swatches or remnants of clothing material for the production of these sewn items come from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and as far as Davao, acquired at a lower cost for the VFFI, he said.

While these are already being sold in local outlets and delivered to local clients, the VFFI’s focus now is to increase its marketing side by side with production, Señires said, adding that they are cautious about large volume production without a corresponding market, besides limited availability of materials for production. “We might not be able yet to catch up with the demand,” he said.

This year, VFFI is eyeing to expand its production by setting up a training and marketing center at the former Women’s Crisis Center at the Philippine National Police provincial office in Sibulan town as well as bringing it down to the local communities, Señires said.  (FREEMAN)