What once began as the Self Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) back in 1993, as one of the main social programs of the government that aimed to provide enough financial assistance to help kick-start the marginalized and poor households to pursue entrepreneurial activity and savings generation. After years of successful run, it was transformed into the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) back in 2011. Program participants were given the choice to choose between the two track-program, Employment Facilitation Track and Microenterprise Development Track.
Ten years have passed, and the program has assisted over 2 million families, brought them out of poverty, allowed the possibility of financial independence, and partnered them up for national and international distribution. Acknowledging the years of success, the ups and downs of establishing one’s own livelihood, this is reflected in one of SLP’s activities dubbed as Likhang Hiraya.
Likhang Hiraya comes from the combination of two Filipino words: Likha which means to create and Hiraya which means out of dreams or vision. At DSWD Field Office 9, Likhang Hiraya was conducted to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the program last August 9-13, 2021 at SM City Mindpro. Featuring the products of one of the most successful SLP Association it has organized, the Tugbungan Ayudahan Livelihood Association (TALA).
Originally composed of 15 members in 2015, mostly of housewives in their neighborhood, much of their founding members have come and go, pursued other livelihood opportunities, hired househusbands, exhibited for national and international displays as well. Their product – hand crafted bags, pouches, and face masks made from batik cloth – has awarded them with a pool of loyal customers that commission the association during events and often buy their products as tokens and souvenirs. With the bright-colored and fascinating patterns of the batik cloth it easily catches the attention of a walking individual – begging them to buy the hanging bag or pouch.
TALA President Estrella Dinampo hopes that the Likhang HIraya Display would encourage those to join SLP and pursue a livelihood that could someday be worthy to be put up for display.
Likhang Hiraya not only aimed to showcase the abilities and skills SLP has honed but to show the faces of Sibol (Solidarity and Innovation in Building Opportunities for Livelihoods), portraying the stories behind the track they chose, their motivations to carry on and to rise after every adversary faced. It hopes to influence the public of the possibilities and opportunities with the program.
The event proved to only be the beginning of a fruitful partnership between the agency and the SM establishment that would help benefit SLP Associations in promoting and retailing their products and produce.
