Anecita C. Manayon, a 50-year-old street vendor in Dalandanan, Valenzuela City, saw her income rise after learning how to produce processed food products under a livelihood program provided by Odyssey Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of CDO-Foodsphere Inc.
“I used to sell only dried fish and vegetables. But when I learned how to produce siomai, empanada, embotido and other processed food products, I am now selling more products in Valenzuela City. My income also increased, thanks to Odyssey Foundation,” said Manayon.
Manayon is one of the 2,800 beneficiaries of Odyssey Foundation’s Gabay Hanapbuhay livelihood program which turned them into micro-entrepreneurs. The program equips mostly poor parents with entrepreneurial skills so that they can earn additional income for their families.
It trains beneficiaries on cosmetology, facial treatment, food processing, fancy jewelry making, dishwashing liquid and soap making, massage therapy, cosmetology, fancy accessories design, beads making and water lily weaving. OFI also provides starter kits to selected participants following assessment and evaluation.
The program was created to help parents overcome economic problems such as inadequate household income, unemployment and malnutrition of children.
Gina Briones, a 49-year-old housewife in Malanday, Valenzuela City, now earns more from selling embotido to her neighbors, after receiving training on meat processing under Gabay Buhay. “After the training, I received orders from my neighbors who liked my embotido. I am now able to save, if there are many orders. Even my children now spend less in school, because I personally prepare their lunch,” she said.
Helen Sumayang, a 47-year-old housewife in Barangay Pasolo, Valenzuela City, said the training on massage therapy now enables her to earn. “My neighbors and friends know that I have been well trained and call me if they need massage. I earn P200 to P300 per message. This means additional income for my family,” she said.
The livelihood program started on Oct. 8, 2011 in Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela with 142 parent participants under the first batch, according to Odyssey Foundation president Jerome Ong.
Parents of undernourished children in Valenzuela City, home to the headquarters of CDO Foodsphere, were the initial beneficiaries to complement OFI’s supplemental feeding program called Gabay Nutrisyon.
The program spread to other parts of Luzon amid the overwhelming response of community leaders. Different barangays in Caloocan City, Malabon City, Quezon City, Bulacan and Malvar, Batangas also benefited from the succeeding batches of the livelihood program.
Odyssey Foundation said that as of March 15, 2018, some 2,800 individuals, mostly parents of undernourished children in poor communities from 28 barangays, have graduated from Gabay Hanapbuhay with the help of about 40 community partners and 202 volunteers.
Among Odyssey Foundation’s partners under the Gabay Hanapbuhay program are Ang Hortaleza Foundation Inc., Villa Corazon Homeowners Association Inc., Philippine Business for Social Progress and Friends of Win Organization.
Odyssey Foundation is currently implementing the program among 97 participants representing the 28th batch of beneficiaries in Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City.
An impact assessment of the program shows that 61.25 percent or 1,715 participants used the skills they received from the training on profitable livelihood projects, while 18.75 percent (525 participants) used their newly acquired skills for home activities that allow them to have less household expenses.
Ong said Gabay Hanapbuhay aims to promote productivity and develop livelihood skills among selected participants in a chosen community. Aside from livelihood enhancement, OFI develops programs concerning children nourishment, child education, environment and other social services.
“This is our little contribution to community empowerment. We have allocated funds to build and develop micro-entrepreneurs so that they can become more active in nation-building. More important than dole-outs to the less fortunate are real and long-term solutions to poverty. Our Gabay Hanapbuhay program provides skills training in impoverished communities. Women, especially housewives, are empowered to contribute to household income through practical livelihood activities,” Ong said.