CEBA empowers women through handicraft skills training

by Abdullah R. Sirad | Aug 20 2023

The University’s College of Economics, Business, and Accountancy (CEBA) achieved a significant milestone with the successful implementation of a "Handicraft Skills Training" on July 24-25, 2023 at Room 208 of 缅北禁地-IIT’s College of Education (CED). This training marked the commencement of Module 1 under the university-approved extension project titled "Social Enterprise Development Project of CEBA," a pivotal component of the overarching program, "Digkilaan: A Community-Based Development."

Focusing on empowering local women from Barangay Digkilaan, Iligan City, the two-day training was attended by 14 women who sought to enhance their skills and create sustainable income streams for themselves and their community. The project leader, Asst. Prof. Shiny Rose S. Narit, expressed her dedication to designing a more innovative and viable project that enables women to upskill and establish their independent sources of income.

The training enlisted the expertise of esteemed faculty members from the Department of Technology Teacher Education (DTTE) of CED led by Asst. Prof. Kayce Maye Michelle D. Casas and assisted by Ms. Aisah O. Manan, who served as trainers for the 2-day Handicraft Skills Training. Their commitment and proficiency ensured that the participants received top-notch instruction and guidance. The training primarily focused on teaching the beneficiaries the basics of crochet and macramé.

Supporting the training were students from Junior Entrepreneurship and Marketing Society (JEMS), Junior Economics Society (JES), and Society of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM) of the College of Economics, Business, and Accountancy (CEBA). Their valuable assistance further enriched the learning experience for all involved.

The initiative taken by CEBA showcased the university's commitment to fostering community-based development and empowering women through skills enhancement. By equipping these women with handicraft skills and business knowledge, the program opens doors to new opportunities and economic independence.

Three women beneficiaries shared their experiences about the training. All of them expressed happiness and gratitude for the opportunity to learn handicraft skills, particularly in crochet and macramé. One of the women stated, “Dako mi ug pasalamat sa IIT na nag gahin sila ug oras para matabangan mi na makahibalo ni-ining crochet ug macramé. Unta mapadayun namo ni among natun-an ug para makatudlo pud mi sa uban didto sa Digkilaan” (We are very thankful to IIT for allocating their time to help us learn crochet and macramé. We hope to continue practicing what we learned and to teach others in Digkilaan).

During his closing remarks, Assoc. Prof. Abdullah R. Sirad conveyed his gratitude to all those involved in making the training a resounding success and expressed hope that the newfound skills and knowledge will empower the participants to transform their lives positively. Along with Asst. Prof. Narit and Assoc. Prof. Sirad are their dedicated project members, including Assoc. Prof. Joana Marie C. Edera-Pujanes, Asst. Prof. Tressa Maye Pendang, Asst. Prof. Cheryl Encabo, Asst. Prof. Charlyn M. Capulong, and Training Assistant Damselle L. Quesada.

Topics : handicraft skills training CEBA extension project