Only 50% of the world's working-age women are in the labor force. In many coastal communities in the Philippines, women have limited access to economic opportunities due to age-old traditions and norms.

Tagpi-Tagpi

Translated as ''Filipino word for patching things together'' is a circular economy initiative with a mission to economically empower socially marginalized women who face barriers to work in rural coastal areas in the coral triangle.

We do this by empowering women in coastal communities through personal initiative trainings that:

Why Do We Empower Women?

Why We Started Tagpi-Tagpi?

Our Community

Yolanda Women's Association

In February 2020, a pilot workshop was organized in Apo Island, a renowned destination known for its pristine coral reefs and resident sea turtles. Despite the island attracting over 50,000 tourists in 2018, tourism jobs were predominantly reserved for men, leaving women largely excluded. To address this disparity, Tagpi-Tagpi trained a total of 10 women from the Yolanda Women's Organization in sustainable entrepreneurship.

''Before working for Tagpi-Tagpi, my job was to deliver water to households using my old wooden cart. Often, I had to go to faraway places to do other jobs to support my family. But now, I can have more time with my children, and I can work from home too.

I am looking forward to starting my own business once tourism is back in Apo Island.''

A message from Ate Rebecca,

Tagpi-Tagpi Manager, Apo Island

Duhinob Women's Association

In March 2020, shortly before the lockdown, Tagpi-Tagpi was invited to participate in an upcycling project organized by CENRO-Manukan in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at Negosyo Center, President Manuel A Roxas, Zamboanga Del Norte. The event was held in celebration of Women's Month with the theme "WE Make Change Work for Women".

A total of 20 women were trained in sustainable entrepreneurship during the workshop. The training highlighted the role of women in raising awareness of the established pawikan nesting site in their coastal area. With the support provided by DTI, these women will be able to create products and business opportunities using locally sourced materials.

Dauin Women's

In October 2020, Tagpi-Tagpi trained 10 women from Dauin, Negros Oriental, to make plush toys. The upcycling training aimed to provide women with a platform to work as a team, share their creativity, and have a source of income.

This training and micro-entrepreneurship were funded by East-West Center

‘’One of the valuable lessons I gained from my experience with Tagpi-Tagpi's training is the importance of embracing new skills, even if I wasn't certain of their immediate use or my proficiency. I acquired the art of crafting plush toys from old clothes and established my own business. More significantly, I learned to honor and value the ideas of fellow women. Never did I imagine myself as a leader among women in my community. I shared my newfound knowledge with them and witnessed their determination to learn as well. We became a close-knit family. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, our bond grew stronger, and we learned to appreciate the opportunities and blessings derived from upcycling old clothes’’.

A message from ate Lori,

Tagpi-Tagpi Manager, Negros Oriental Islands