Bantayan, a small island belonging to the province of
Cebu in the Philippines, was one of the areas most severely affected by the
typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.
Local populations have suffered severe damage and were
left in deplorable conditions!
The emergency for these communities was then to find a
way to stimulate economic activity and find quickly a new source of revenues.
To help them, we got interested in an activity: weaving
from pandan (local plant).
Several women of the island already had basic
knowledge allowing them to make place-mats and matting pandan, but
unfortunately did not have the financial means to develop this activity.
We then deployed the necessary resources to help them!
Key steps of the project
April 2014 At
the beginning, we have grouped a dozen motivated women and have provided them
with the required materials to manufacture of basic weaving products, to
stimulate activity.
July 2014 After
the reopening of the market and the prospects of development made more
concrete, HOST organized a training for weaving bags.
Felipe,
a specialist of weaving belonging to the Department of Industrial Affairs
visited Bantayan to lead a 10-day training for the weavers. Women then acquired
new weaving techniques and learned how to dye pandan leaves in order to make
colorful bags and baskets.
August 2014 Once the activity of weaving bags settled, we
approached two retailers based in Bacolod : the brands Kiculo and Vivo that
committed to the project by making the bags available to the public.
October 2014 The
"Bantayan totes" were presented to suppliers around the world during
the "Manila Fame," one of the largest fairs in Southeast Asia during
which the creations of local artisans are exposed to potential exporters.
November 2014 Second
training with the aim of improving the quality and developing new weaving
techniques to produce different kinds of bags.
Since the launching of the project, our volunteers regularly visit the island of Bantayan to follow closely the evolution of the work of weavers, and each time the surprise is huge ...
In just six months, women have gone from very basic
weaving products to quality bags!
With the training of November, the weavers learned
again new techniques of weaving and also techniques of sewing that allow them
to make bags more and more sophisticated, and even in line with current trends!
During one of our last trips to Bantayan, we collected
the poignant testimony of weavers, to better understand how the project has
changed their lives. For many, the activity of weaving has increased their
daily income by three, allowing them to send their children to school, or to
get the electricity in their small habitats.