Thanks to the Women REACH, 43 women overseas Filipino worker (OFW) returness have just finished their micro-entrepreneurship training just this month.
The Women REACH (or Women Entrepreneurs Reintegrated and Economically Active at Home) Program is a joint-project from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Coca-Cola Philippines, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
All the 43 OFW women have decided to stay in the country for good and so, thanks to the program, they will be able to start on the right track. The 12-week training included Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR), Basic Entrepreneurship and Gender Sensitivity Training. Through this, it is hoped that the women will be better capable in handling their future small businesses on their own.
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Secretary of DOLE, said:
“Women REACH! is for the economic empowerment of Filipino women migrant workers, especially domestic workers and caregivers returning from overseas work.
“The Women REACH! Program supports our reintegration program, where we provide a package of services and mechanisms implemented by government and its socials partners to facilitate the productive return of Filipino workers upon completion of overseas employment.”
During the graduation ceremony, Baldoz was represented by Nicon F. Fameronag, DOLE Undersecretary for Employment Facilitation and Manpower Development. Fameronag complimented the OFW returnees and challenged them to not only rise up to the challenges of entrepreneurship but set fine examples for the next batch of program beneficiaries.
Out of the 43 women, 25 will be beneficiaries of the Balik-Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay program of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). On the other hand, 18 will be beneficiaries of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
More than that, training graduates who meet the requirements for livelihood formation or enhancement will receive starter kits from the DOLE’s Assist WELL (Welfare, Employment, Legal, and Livelihood assistance) Program.