In 2024, the Social Work students of North Valley College Foundation, Inc. brought hope and opportunity to different communities in Kidapawan City through simple yet life-changing livelihood initiatives. In Barangay Ginatilan, residents learned how to turn the humble taro into crispy, marketable chips; in Barangay Mua-an, solo parents found strength and inspiration in making banana chips; while in Barangay Balabag, women from KALIPI discovered the potential of dishwashing liquid production as a home-based business. Even the PWD sector in the same barangay joined in the movement, gaining new knowledge in tilapia and hito farming. These were not just training sessions, they were moments of empowerment where people rediscovered their own abilities, built connections, and saw new possibilities for a better life.
Each activity echoed the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals particularly No Poverty (SDG 1), The studentsโ work showed how development begins at the grassroots, with ordinary people learning to create something extraordinary from whatโs already around them. The projects gave women, solo parents, and persons with disabilities the confidence to start small but dream big to see themselves not as dependents, but as capable entrepreneurs and community contributors. By using local materials like taro, banana, and freshwater fish, these initiatives teach that sustainability and livelihood can go hand in hand.
Looking forward, many participants expressed their eagerness to continue and expand their newfound skills into small businesses with hopes of receiving local start-up financial assistance from barangay programs, DTI, or microfinance groups. Such support would help transform these simple community trainings into lasting sources of income and empowerment. Through these heartfelt efforts, the Social Work students didnโt just teach livelihood skills they helped build dreams, restore dignity, and strengthen communities from within. Their work is a reminder that real change doesnโt always come from grand projects, but from small, sincere acts that help people believe in themselves again.
Documentation
This was a taro chips training for the residents in brgy Ginatilan to have skills in food processing and also for an income generating.
Banana chips for solo parents in Brgy. Mua-an Kidapawan City this activity can strengthen the solo parent to sustain their daily needs through this income generating skills.
Kalipi Organization in Brgy. Balabag learned how to produce dishwashing and fabcon. The training focused on equipping KALIPI members composed mostly of women and mothers with practical skills in producing dishwashing liquid using affordable, locally available materials.
