Project BEADS

Since October is Economic and Community Development Month for Rotary, the Rotaract Club of San Francisco launched their first Income Generating Project in partnership with Borbon’s Indigenous People - Youth.

Project BEADS:Bridging Education and Development through Indigenous Skills Empowerment aims to provide assistance in the learning of Indigenous Youths especially those residing in Borbon. Borbon is a far-flung Baranggay in the outskirts of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

With the goal of inculcating the concept of sustainability in our projects, and not just mere provision of basic needs, we provided beads for our conduction of skills development training seminar in bead-making for the youths of Borbon. We were able to teach them how to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and face mask lanyards. Indigenous people are known for their intricate handicrafts and skills in art-making like bracelets, necklaces, and other useful things and accessories. Hence, all we have to do is to keep the culture alive.

The handicrafts created by the indigenous youths weekly will be sold by Rotaractors starting December 2021. Proceeds will be used to sustain the project, provide income, and finance the 2 Wifi Broadbands that we installed in their Baranggay. The youths were also provided with pre-loaded sim cards individually for their own internet connection aside from the community-shared WiFis we donated.

This project wouldn't be possible without the Project Chairs, Rtr. Kirby Bas, Rtr. Rex Belli Peji, and LC President Rtr. Augustus Nicko Bas, and with equal importance, our mother club, the Rotary Club of San Francisco, LC Secretary and PE, and Rotaract Adviser, Rtn. Ma. Veronica Ivy Torrefranca, and the charter President, Rtn. Jomari Amador and the LC President, Rtn. Justin Alain Philippe Avila Bernas.

The project is ongoing and will be running for 6 months. It will undergo a general assessment and an evaluation with the partners. If the project is found successful, it will be continued and replicated in other IP Communities. Read article in local dialect of the Indigenous People - Youth below...