KANDAMA YOUNG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAMME PITCH VIDEO

Summary

This video highlights the struggles of Ifugao women in the Philippines, particularly the challenges they face with poverty, healthcare, and cultural preservation. It tells the story of a woman in Halong village who, despite severe medical issues, cannot afford treatment due to limited income. The initiative by the social enterprise, Kendama, addresses these issues by offering women opportunities through education, workshops, and sustainable livelihoods like weaving. The video emphasizes the importance of empowering women in achieving a better future, with a call to action for advocacy and support.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Ifugao people are known for their 2,000-year-old rice terraces and vibrant culture, but face challenges from globalization and poverty.
• 😀 Many stories of hardship, particularly maternal deaths and lack of medical care, are overlooked in the Ifugao region.
• 😀 One of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, Ifugao's residents struggle to maintain their visual identity and livelihood.
• 😀 A woman named Bodhi Adam from the village of Halong shared her personal struggles, including a health issue with her breasts that she cannot afford to treat.
• 😀 The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals aim to address such issues, especially through empowering women in marginalized communities.
• 😀 Empowering women with more freedom and choices is crucial to achieving a better future for all, as stated by a Nobel laureate.
• 😀 Kendama, a social enterprise, seeks to provide opportunities to women in the Ifugao region by partnering with local councils and government agencies.
• 😀 A women's reading center was established in Ifugao to help with literacy, community development, and to provide technical assistance and raw materials for woven fabric production.
• 😀 The introduction of more comfortable tools, such as private leads, replaces the rudimentary backstrap looms previously used by the women.
• 😀 The goal is to create a sustainable livelihood for women in the community, improving their lives and the lives of their families.
• 😀 While Kendama is not the first or the last organization working for a better future, more efforts are needed to ensure that sustainable development becomes a reality for all.

Q & A

What is the main issue faced by the Ifugao people in the script?

The Ifugao people are facing the loss of their visual identity and livelihood due to the pressures of globalization and structural poverty, which are pushing their culture and traditional way of life toward extinction.

What is one of the primary health challenges mentioned for women in the Ifugao region?

One of the primary health challenges mentioned is the high maternal mortality rate and the lack of adequate medical assistance, which goes largely unnoticed.

Who is the woman that was highlighted in the script, and what was her situation?

The woman highlighted is named Bodhi Adam. She was in tears as she shared her struggles in the rice fields and the pain she was experiencing in her breasts, but her low income prevented her from seeking necessary medical treatment.

Why is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mentioned in the script?

The SDGs are mentioned to emphasize the need for empowering women and addressing the issues of poverty, health, and gender equality to create a better future for all.

What did the Nobel laureate emphasize about women and sustainable development?

The Nobel laureate emphasized that empowering women by giving them more choices and freedoms is crucial for achieving sustainable development and a better future for all.

How did the social enterprise, Kendama, contribute to the community?

Kendama, a social enterprise, helped establish a reading center for women, conducted workshops on basic reading and community development, and provided technical assistance and raw materials for the women to start producing woven fabric.

What innovation was introduced to help the women in the Ifugao region with their weaving?

To ease the pain caused by traditional weaving, Kendama replaced rudimentary backstrap looms with more comfortable, private looms to improve the weaving experience for the women.

How did Kendama support the women in the community in terms of design and production?

Kendama helped create a community of designers focused on using indigenous fabrics to create modern pieces, providing a platform for women to showcase their designs and improve their livelihoods.

What role does the local community play in Kendama's initiatives?

The local community plays a key role through collaboration with local barangay councils and government agencies, which helped facilitate the establishment of the reading center and workshops for community development.

What is the broader call to action at the end of the script?

The script ends with a call to action encouraging viewers to become advocates for women’s empowerment and sustainable development, urging them to join the movement for a better future.