CBH&R: Everlasting Hope Center - Cebu - It's The Tote That Counts

INTRODUCTION

Livelihood refers to one’s ability to meet basic needs. In the Philippine context, provision of opportunities for income-generating activities and livelihood development continue to be realised through a myriad of means, including community-based rehabilitation programs to ensure that families are able to secure basic necessities and ameliorate current living situations. Occupational therapy plays a key role in facilitating and developing programs relative to accessibility to livelihood, especially for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their families in acquiring skills, livelihood opportunities, enhanced participation in community life, and self-fulfilment (WHO, 2010).

Based on the survey conducted among the parents of the Everlasting HOPE centre, it was gathered that most of them are not able to find work due to time constraints– between balancing the medical needs of their child and trying to be a full-time or part-time worker to sustain their needs. As much as possible, they want to be involved in their family’s financial situation, however they also face the burden of having little to no resources to even start a small business. Considering this, it is only relevant that CBR supports this interesting pursuit by providing opportunities to train, expand their knowledge, and further expound their experience regarding entrepreneurship via online business which can address the pertaining factors mentioned above. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face interactions are restricted, consequently limiting opportunities for and participation in livelihood. This has resulted in compromised financial resources, thus affecting families’ acquisition of basic needs, even with significant efforts in making ends meet. In recent years, the advent of online selling has been on the rise, as seen in different social media and e-commerce platforms. This has also been frequented by online consumers with the ongoing pandemic, allowing accessibility and convenience to products and services amid COVID-19 restrictions. With this in mind, it is appropriate that CBR recognizes this as another means of encouraging livelihood among community members to explore, start, and extend their market, as well as promote brand recognition and products.

It’s the Tote that Counts is a workshop provided for the parents of E-Hope in which they have received education and training in producing and designing tote bags. Canvas tote bags are currently in trend in the market and these products can cater to different audiences which will allow for easy access to a readily available and a wide target market. This program will provide the parents of E-Hope with training opportunities that can help them produce their own product and be able to generate their own income to support their families.

Create opportunities in basic business skills, business development and financial services to support their self-employment pursuits.
Create opportunities for skills training on producing products, specifically tote bags, and other possible business ventures, such as provision of services.
Create products (tote bags) in incorporation with life experiences and inspirations of the parents
Create a source of income for parents through their own products.
To apply what they have learned from the skills training program to enable the parents to carry over what they have learned from the skills training and use these skills in the future business opportunities.
Apply their learnings and market the tote bags both on social media and the locale.

TARGET RESULTS

VISION

To support the livelihood of the constituents of E-Hope as well as to impart lasting effects on their well-being and quality of life.

MISSION

To promote well-being and quality of life in the constituents of E-Hope by developing and providing self-employment opportunities that help constituents establish and sustain their desired livelihood pursuits.

OBJECTIVES

To create access to a self-employment program that may cater to their concerns about time management and capital.
To create and represent their brand’s recognition at the same time through branding and messaging.
To create skills in managing a business through e-commerce.
To apply and expand skills on proper customer service care and in marketing methods on popular social media applications available.
To apply marketing skills necessary for long term sustainability.
To understand the demographics and trends to market the business effectively to a specific age group and more.
To understand competitive pricing and market penetration.

LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

IMPLEMENTATION

It’s the Tote that Counts: Tote Bag Making” is an online workshop wherein the Parents of E-Hope will receive education and training in producing or providing a certain product or service, which in this case will be tote bags. Canvas tote bags are currently in trend and are easily marketable – encompassing an audience of diverse taste, which will allow for easy access to a readily available and wide target market. The product is economical and inexpensive, which will require lower capital – making it accessible for Parents of E-Hope. Canvas tote bags will be marketed as blank canvas tote bags, which will prompt artistic expression and creativity from both the sellers (parents) and buyers where they will customize and design the tote bags themselves – making it more personalized.

DESCRIPTION

PROGRAM

POSTER

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