Short Background of the team
Even before the pandemic came, there were cases of students working to finance their education expenses. Some of them even decided to stop because of the lack of option and opportunity. There are also existing cases of unemployed citizens, poor and marginalized populations. Unfortunately, in the midst of the pandemic, it has inevitably gotten worse than expected. In fact, as reported, the COVID-19 pandemic is significantly impacting the Philippines when it comes to the economy, jobs and poverty incidence. However, that is not the only problem our community has been constantly battling against. According to the study of (Mina, 2021), the Philippines is among the topmost vulnerable countries in the world to natural disasters and climate impacts.
Last year, the country experienced a volcanic eruption, a series of major earthquakes, and successive typhoons that inundated more than 60 towns and cities. After engaging in an exchange program. We have already implemented small projects titled “NGGONA’AN” and “Youth Power Cure HD, where this project aims to idea solutions, appreciate sustainability, and hit different birds in a rock; Empowering youth through reviving culture and environmental preservation. This is what pushed us to advance the
ECOUTURE project where the name is derived from the word Eco and Culture in which the combination of both leads to the ultimate aim of the project: to not harm the environment and preserve the culture. Which are both feasible and enforceable by making products made of discarded jeans and pants in which the reuse and reduce method is applied which is extremely important to be able to protect our environment. Simultaneously the sewn products will be touched by the cultural weave or the so -called Langkit created by the beneficiaries who know how to weave such as former students who have dropped out of school, students who are currently studying who want to work to support their expenses, children with no parents to support them, teenage mothers, widows, and the marginalized women sector in Balindong lanao del sur.
Brief description of the project
Ecouture is an eco-friendy fashion with a touch of langkit, a Meranao cultural weave that will be marketed physically and even through online means. The products are made out through weaving thread and sewing the unused jeans which will be transform into something new that are reusabe such as : bag, wallet, langkit, hat, vest, etc. We at the same time promote expanding employement, livelihood and oppurtunities to our local weavers such as out-of-school youth, parentless children, widow, students and marginalized women sector.
Goals and Objective’s Aside from to the ultimate aim of the project to preserve environment and reviving culture and handicraft development.Specifically, langkit— a Meranaw delicate cultural design. This social enterprise also aims to:
1.To expand livelihood opportunities to our local weavers from teenage mothers,out-of-school youth, and widows sectors through income—generation.
2.To highlight the importance of supporting the marginalized sector in Balindong by giving them sadaqah and creating an ecological environment project generated income from this initiative.
3.To achieve a sustainable community through economic development by selling Eco-Products and products with a touch of langkit while simultaneously promoting it.
Mission Ecouture aims to be a symbol of love for nature and culture by making eco-friendly and fashionable products from no-longer-used jeans and to empower youth in making Inaul and preserve the authentic essential of Langkit-a Meranaw cultural design.
Vision To successfully empower the youth and develop the livelihood of the marginalized women sector in the community through income generated initiatives regarding environmental protection and cultural preservation.
