Success Stories

Within These Four Walls: April’s Journey from Learning to Livelihood

Empowerment begins when opportunities meet determination. Through perseverance, dreams once limited by circumstance become stories of success.

This is the story of April, a person with disability (PWD), who powered through challenges, transforming opportunities into a thriving home-based livelihood through TESDA’s Bread and Pastry Production NC II program.

After graduating from high school, Ms. April aspired to continue her education. But living in Barangay Itbud, Uyugan, the farthest municipality from Basco in Batan, made that dream difficult to pursue. With the province's only college institutions located in Basco, distance became another barrier, particularly for someone living with a mobility impairment. Thus, as an out-of-school youth, this was an important endeavor for her as it provided her with a pathway to obtain practical and industry-relevant skills. Through TESDA, she gained access to quality tech-voc training which not only opened doors to livelihood opportunities, but also boosted her confidence, empowering her to believe in her abilities and pursue her goals with greater determination.

Ms. April was 30 years old when she enrolled in Bread and Pastry Production NC II under TESDA’s Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), implemented by the Batanes State College, with Ms. Daryl Alva Batin-Duguran as trainer. Recognizing Ms. April’s circumstances and commitment to learning, the trainer went above and beyond the traditional classroom setting by conducting the training sessions at her home in Itbud. Through this personalized approach, the trainer ensured that accessibility challenges would not hinder her opportunity to acquire valuable skills and complete the BPP NC II program.

Through the shared dedication and efforts of Ms. April and Ms. Daryl, Ms. April finished the program in August 2023. In addition, she completed her competency assessment in December 2023, finally securing her National Certificate in Bread and Pastry Production.

Months after completing the program, Ms. April received her STEP starter toolkit in April 2024 which was personally delivered to her home. Equipped with an electric oven, electric hand mixer, and other baking tools, the toolkit became an important stepping stone in turning her newly acquired skill into a source of income. Ms. April established a small home-based baking business, producing and accepting orders for a variety of baked goods, including sweet rolls, upside-down cakes, banana, carrot and kalabasa cakes, kababayan bread, and cookies. She also displays and sells her baked products at their family's small sari-sari store, making them readily available to customers in the community. To reach an even wider market, she actively promotes her products through Facebook and participates in agro-industrial fairs whenever opportunities arise.

The income generated from her baking venture has enabled her to gradually expand her business. Using her earnings, she purchased additional tools and materials to start a small palamig or refreshments business, offering halo-halo, shakes, floats, and fruit juices to customers in her community.

But like many small business owners, Ms. April's entrepreneurial journey has not been without challenges. One of the difficulties she encountered was competition within the small community she lives in. To attract and retain customers, she often lowered her prices to remain competitive while continuing to provide quality baked goods.

Seasonal conditions also affect her operations. During summer, she temporarily pauses her baking activities due to the high temperatures in her baking area. Despite this, she remains optimistic and looks forward to resuming her business once the temperatures become more manageable, which she hopes to be around July this year. Rather than remaining idle, she has strategized to shift her focus on her palamig business, as alternative source of income during the hotter months.

Running a home-based baking business in a remote community also comes with logistical challenges. While Ms. April lives in Itbud, many, if not all, of the ingredients and supplies she needs for baking are only available in Basco. With limited access to baking ingredients in her barangay, she often relies on the assistance of her family members to purchase and transport the supplies needed for her orders.

Despite these challenges, Ms. April continues to find ways to sustain her livelihood. Through the support of her family and her own determination, she is able to keep her business running and meet the demands of her customers whenever resources are available. From a simple starter toolkit to two growing livelihood ventures, her story stands as a testament to the power of inclusive technical-vocational education, determination, and perseverance. Through TESDA's support and her unwavering commitment to improve her circumstances, she has transformed opportunities into meaningful sources of livelihood and hope. As she looks forward to resuming her baking operations in the coming months, Ms. April remains focused on growing her business and exploring new possibilities. Her journey serves as an inspiration to fellow out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, and aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that with the right support and determination, challenges can become stepping stones to success.

Within these four walls, Ms. April found more than a place to learn. Today, the same home that once served as her classroom has become the heart of her growing business.