DOABLE AND PRACTICAL PROJECTS FOR SOROPTIMIST CLUBS

To assist clubs in formulating projects which they can easily manage, whilst yielding significant impact and providing Soroptimist exposure in our communities, below are examples of projects which clubs may wish to carry out in their communities:

   • SI Alabang’s BAZAAR

   • SI Makati’s Women’s Health Seminars

   • SI Hope Baguio’s Hub of Hope Day Care Center

   • SI Pulilan’s Home Poverty Management Project

SI ALABANG’S BAZAAR
by President Marilee Victorio, SI Alabang

For the past few years, SI Alabang (SIA) has been raising funds for its projects by organizing a bazaar. Last year’s bazaar was held on September 27 and 28, 2008 at the Cuenca Court of Ayala Alabang Village.

SIA has a Bazaar Committee responsible for the overall planning and implementation of the bazaar project. This year, though, the Bazaar Committee decided to do things a little differently and smartly too.

Instead of doing everything ourselves, SIA’s Bazaar Committee contracted a master lease on the premises, and then subleased the space to vendors, retaining for the club the full management and supervision of the project.

Months before the event, a contract was signed and sealed with FlorArLits, a group specializing in bazaars. Thereafter, prospective vendors were contacted and spaces allocated based on the floor plans provided. The usual size of one booth is around 2x3 meters. Only vendors who have fully paid one week prior the event were allowed to set up their booths. Members who want a space for their own business were given a discount. Since the premises were sub-leased, the SIA Budget Committee did not have to make any advance payments for thevenue, tables, chairs, security, public address system and entertainment activity for the bazaar.

One day before opening, club members set up tables and numbered and marked these with the vendor’s name. Fashion accessories, clothes, food, books and other popular items were sold in the Bazaar. Haggling was allowed but vendors tried to get the best price for their wares. They have to be competitive considering that people flock to bazaar for bargains.

At least six members are needed to supervise, manage and handle complaints and problems on a daily basis for a project of this size. Club members may take turns but they will need to learn well defined guidelines and instructions on managing a bazaar.

SIA learned that an earlier start in the bazaar project yields more vendors and thus, more income. Soroptimist clubs that want to use this fund raising idea should start as early as six months before the intended event. Choose the best location and the best time you can get; think through your plans and guidelines to minimize problems during the event. Booths for dry goods can go up to P3, 500 and P5, 500 for food for two days. For public awareness, put up big signages of Soroptimist; invite your club beneficiaries to sell their livelihood crafts; and provide music and entertainment to liven the affair. Banderitas could add color, too.

The Christmas season is a perfect time to hold bazaars, but don’t forget to have fun, too. We won’t tell you exactly how much SI Alabang made on its Bazaar last year, but we can assure you it should be sufficient for your club’s projects.

WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND INFANT MORTALITY
by Leni V. Cuesta, SI Makati

Consider this situation in our country today . . .

The Philippines has the second highest growth rate in Asia. Four babies are born every minute, 5,740 a day, 2.1 million a year. At this rate, our population, estimated in 2006 at 86.5 million (NSO 2006), will reach 100 million in 2012 and double in 2023.

Twenty years of research have established the relationship between high population growth and poverty. Very simply, it is the inability of the government to allocate limited resources for social services to more and more people, resulting in lower quality of education, a less healthy populace, lower productivity, less employment opportunities, lower income, less taxes, less social services, and on and on . . .

Women have one child more than they want, with the lowest economic quintile having an average of 2.1 unplanned or unwanted children:

As a result, 3.1 million pregnancies occur each year, half of which are unintended and one-third result in intentional abortion. Maternal deaths account for 14% of deaths among women. According to the Commission on Population, ten women die every 24 hours from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications (Popcorn 2000).

Twenty-nine infants out of every 1,000 live births die before reaching one year of age; 40 young children die before reaching five years of age (NSO, NDHS 2003).

How can Soroptimists help?

One of the ways by which Soroptimist clubs can help is through education. Clubs can conduct mini-lectures on basic women’s health, family planning or spacing, prevention of breast and cervical cancers, and other related women’s health issues in their adopted community. If clubs do not have medical practiotioners among their membership, they may ask the assistance of other clubs or the medical industry. The following are a few examples of training programs which clubs may consider:

• Know your Body – female reproductive anatomy and cycle. Research shows that in the Philippines, more than 50% of women do not know about their basic anatomy and the basic reproductive system. This module is designed to discuss in simple, layman language the reproductive system, the menstrual cycle, ovulation and fertilization with the goal of increasing fertility awareness.
• How to perform Breast Self-Exam - Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the Philippines. Beneficiaries will be taught not only how to perform breast self-exam but also the importance of performing such on a regular basis for the early detection of breast cancer. Breast cancer is treatable and with good survival rate when diagnosed early.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections and Cervical Cancer - This module seeks to influence women’s sexual behavior by discussing risks, signs and symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Cervical Cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women around the world and in the Philippines. In 2005, 10 Filipinas died daily of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, signs and symptoms do not usually manifest until the disease is in Stage Three, in which there is only a 35% survival rate within five years. However, if treatment is done at the earliest stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 92%.

HUB OF HOPE DAY CARE CENTER
by SI Hope Baguio

The Hub of Hope Day Care Center is a project of the Soroptimist International of Hope Baguio (SIHB) established in January 2008 to help working mothers feed their children.

Located in downtown Baguio City, the Hub of Hope Day Care Center is the first day care center in the country that features a breast milk bank to encourage bonding between a working mother and her child through breastfeeding. This empowers mothers who provide the health and nutrition needs of their babies during the critical age of development.

While many mothers realize the importance of breastfeeding, they do not practice it because they are busy at work. Distance is one of the major reasons why working mothers fail to breastfeed their babies. Breastfeeding is also difficult because the workplace and public areas are not conducive to breastfeeding. Thus only 16 per cent of mothers breastfeed their babies up to six months.

Working mothers located within a 300 square meter radius of the Day Care Center may avail of the services provided by SI Hope Baguio which plans to establish more centers in key cities within ten years.

HOME POVERTY MANAGEMENT
The SI Pulilan Experience: A Success Story
by Benita Santos, SI Pulilan

Background

As the world moves onward into the Third Millennium, survival has become the name of the game. Poverty is creeping ever more deeply into the lives of the people around the world and, to address this, the United Nations called for the “eradication of extreme poverty” through the framework of the Millennium Development Goals.

In response to this challenge, SI Pulilan launched its “Home Poverty Management” program in 2002, which would provide flesh and meaning to the Soroptimist mission.

The Project

Home Poverty Management is an original concept in combating poverty in the home, with the participation of women in small economic endeavors through a holistic approach.

The project had three phases:

Phase IA—Value Redirection, Training Skills Development;
          IB—Micro-Finance;

Phase II—Expansion and Replication of Project; and

Phase III—Formation of a Cooperative for Women.

Phase IA – Value Redirection and Skills Development

Phase IA comprised a series of seminars for 20 selected housewives in Tenejero, Pulilan on the following topics:

   • Filipino Values Re-orientation
   • Home Resource Inventory
   • Creative Home Tasks
   • God and Family Love
   • Home and Environment
   • Project Planning and Preparation
   • Progressive, Independent and Happy Living
   • Family Livelihood Opportunities and Skills Development
   • Micro-Finance

SI Pulilan officers, led by Bulacan North District Director Benita Santos and a number of Barangay officials, served as the resource persons for the first four topics, while instructors from TESDA were invited to speak on the topics covering the livelihood skills training.

It was not unusual to hold the workshops and meetings under mango trees and in other informal settings. Notwithstanding the relatively relaxed atmosphere of these gatherings the beneficiaries, with the help of Soroptimists, were able to prepare mini-livelihood projects. The methods of sharing and learning employed at these workshops and meetings were highly participative and interactive. Participants learned the values of thriftiness and environmental conservation. Effective communication was achieved and, indirectly, teambuilding resulted.

Phase IB – Micro-Finance

At these workshops, participants were guided in formulating a doable and sustainable project. After the project presentation to the SI Pulilan Micro-Financing Team, the amount to be lent to the participants as “seed” capital was determined. The non-interest bearing loan was released with the condition that the participant shall begin paying monthly installments after the sixth month until the loan was fully paid. The amortization scheme was based on the “honor system”, i.e., that the participants were trustworthy and will pay voluntarily through their elected treasurer, who in turn will deliver the money to the SI Pulilan treasurer.

The participants organized themselves into an association and elected their officers, after which the initial capital for each mini-project was distributed as follows:

A total of P20, 000.00 was released as interest-free loans in various amounts. On maturity date, collections amounted to P19, 000.00 with one member unable to pay owing to the death of her piglets. Fortunately, the “Bayanihan” spirit came into play, as the other 19 members contributed to raise the P1,000.00 to help the defaulting member settle her obligation. This was considered a success, since the participants kept their word of honor to pay their loans. They were lent capital anew to continue their livelihood activities with some being given increased amounts at a minimal 10% interest per annum.

Phase II – Expansion and Replication of the Project

The beneficiaries of Tenejero served as models for other women of Pulilan. The project was replicated in Barangay Inaon. Other clubs like SI Plaridel and SI Baliuag have adopted the same project.

Officials of the Provincial Government of Bulacan interviewed the participants and, finding the project noteworthy, then Governor Josie Dela Cruz included the project as a segment of the Galing Pook presentation in Malacanang.
Likewise, the San Beda College Extension Services, having seen the beneficiaries now well organized into an efficiently managed association, adopted the same group for their projects. The group now enjoys the trust and confidence of other NGOs.

Phase III – Formation of a Cooperative

Seventeen of the original twenty members affixed their signatures to the Articles of Cooperation to form a cooperative, with a number of Soroptimist members of Si Pulilan joining them. The Executive Director of the Cooperative Union of the Philippines was invited to deliver a lecture to the new Women of Tenejero Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Project Impact

Social: The project fostered camaraderie, friendly relations and cooperation among the beneficiaries and their families. A code of conduct evolved among them: tong-its, bingo and any form of gambling were taboo; no rude behavior; no backbiting. The women have adopted sound personal behaviors, developed social graces and influenced the other members of her family to practice the same.

Economic: The beneficiaries earned an extra P100 to P250 per day. The amount was spent for rice, sugar, sardines, coffee and school expenses. Some of the beneficiaries expanded their operations through increased loans and are now earning more.

Total Person: The more significant impact of the project, however, is the transformation of the housewife as a total person, empowered by self-confidence, strengthened by integrity, and enriched by values such as love and respect for God and humanity.