Creating New Livelihoods Through Spread Making, Jewelry Making and No-Bake Skills Development

As part of the scholarship program of A Million Voices (AMV) the scholar parents are invited to participate in various livelihood training during the school year. The aim of these courses is to ensure that the parents may acquire sufficient skills in the taught fields to be able generate a much helpful income on their own.

The courses may vary from a couple of weeks to a couple of months in length, and for the longest and most specializing courses the parents will receive their very own start-up kits after completing their exams. After all, what good use may you have of new skills if you are unable to put them into use?

For the school year of 2010 – 2011 the were three livelihood courses held at our office in Manila.

¤ Spread Making – 6 graduating participants – 4 weeks
¤ Jewelry Making – 9 graduating participants – 3 weeks
¤ No-Bake Treats – 7 graduating participants – 6 weeks

Spread Making

The livelihood in spread making was conducted by baking teacher Lorena Castro and consisted of 4 training sessions. The participants learned how to prepare the following spreads: tuna & chicken, cheese pimiento, peanut butter, and strawberry jam. In addition to hands-on training, the course also included costing and packaging. The intention of this course was to introduce the scholar parents to basic spread making in order for them to assist in our office for school lunch preparations.

Jewelry Making

The livelihood in jewelry making was prepared by Charlotte Johansen and conducted by both Charlotte Johansen and Ma. Lourdes J. Javier. The course consisted of 3 sessions – covering headbands, bracelets and earrings. The graduating participants had not only hands-on training during the sessions, but had the chance to practice once per week in our office as well in jewelry making during the course. Costing, sales experience and an exam were also included in the course, and at the graduation the participants received their very own start-up kit with all needed materials to continue the jewelry making in their own homes.

No-Bake Treats

The livelihood in no-bake treats focused on treats recipes not requiring an oven – as many participants often lack access to continuous electricity. The livelihood was conducted by primarily baking teacher Lorena Castro, and included local delicacies such as yema, pulvoron, pastillas, kamote, and different candies. The participants were taught the basics in baking hygiene and ingredients measuring and handling, in addition to receiving hands-on training with the teacher. One additional day per week was also set aside for the participants to practice on their own. Costing and sales experience were also part of the course, and after the graduation the participants received equipment and ingredients to ensure a continuation of their skills development.

Through the livelihoods the participants have been able to gain further knowledge and skills, in addition to being provided with the materials to continue their development and initiate income generating efforts.

AMV would like to thank baking teacher Lorena Castro for her devotion and continuous sharing of her skills. For the school year 2011 – 2012 there will be more livelihoods scheduled to ensure that all scholar families may have the ability to initiate income generating activities.