OSCI conducts livelihood trainings; continues service to and gratitude for long-time partner communities

For the second time this year, the Office for Social Concern and Involvement, together with the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Social and Environmental Engagement for Development and Sustainability, organized a livelihood development workshop. This was attended by 42 participants from 12 partner communities on 12 July 2025 at the Science Education Complex, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City campus.

The program began with Ms Ophalle R. Alzona-Pornela, OSCI Director, welcoming the participants in the morning. She shared with them the hope that the partner communities continue to learn relevant livelihood knowledge and skills applicable to the specific contexts of their organizations.

The participants learned 1) the basic elements of design facilitated by Ms Kate Villas, 2) basic photography for products by Mr Dambo Pornela, and 3) participated in product pitch-in and consultations with Ms Matec Villanueva. The event lasted the whole day.

The trainings were held after the formation programs were over. The first training was held on 24 May 2025 where the partners learned from Ms Matec Villanueva, Director of University Marketing and Communications Office, about the basics of marketing: knowing their target market. 

Moving forward together

OSCI intends to sustain the impact of the livelihood training with the help of the future NSTP12-Bigkis students through their service-learning interventions. Listed below are few major recommendations to assist the participating communities: 

• product development like conducting research on local signature dish
• name study of products
• financial rehabilitation study for cooperatives
• packaging and labelling of products
• suggestive selling of products and services
• expanding market reach
• maximizing the use of social media accounts for online selling of products

Gratitude for partners

Beyond providing avenues to develop the capacity of partner organizations, these efforts by OSCI are also done to return the generosity of all its partners welcoming the Ateneo students into their respective communities. This training, and many of OSCI’s efforts, continues to heed Pope Francis’ call to be in solidarity with the marginalized sectors and the poor.

The list of attendees for the training included partners from the following organizations:

• Baclaran Church-Perpetual Help Women's Program
• Solidarity with Orphans and Widows
• Pambansang Kalipunan ng mga Manggagawang Impormal sa Pilipinas (PATAMABA)
• Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Kababaihan ng Tayabas (SAMAKATA)
• MARIWSKA
• San Jose Free Farmers Association in Antipolo (SJFFAA)
• Ugnayan Ng Mga Mamamayan at Mangingisda ng Rizal (UGMMARIZ): UGMMARIZ- SKBPI, UGMMARIZ- SKTK, UGMMARIZ- BUKAL
• Luzon Eco Transport Services and Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LETS-MPC)
• Gawad Kalinga: GK Blue Eagle, GK Kalayaan Community,GK Vitarich
• Gawang Kamay
• Bigay Buhay Multipurpose Cooperative
• Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc.
• ERDA: ERDA Bagong Silangan, ERDA Muntinlupa