NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

THE GOOD FOOD COMPANY

Good Food Co. is composed members rooted in Ignatian Spirituality through the Christian Life Community (CLC) programme. Their idea is to help small organic farmers earn a sustainable income and bring urbanites fresh, healthy, organic food!

They believe that the most sustainable way of doing this is through the concept of Community Shared Agriculture, which is a system that helps build relationships between farmers and consumers that mutually empowers them. By pledging to support the farm operations for an entire season, consumer households receive regular, fresh, organic produce whilst farmers are provided the security (or assurance) of a stable demand.

More than economics, this programme connect consumers with the farmers themselves in growing a sustainable planet through good food and good company.

How does it work?

Good Food Co. shareholders purchase a “share” - which is essentially a weekly basket of organic, seasonal, and fresh produce grown by farmers for 12 weeks.

As shareholders, consumers get an occasional newsletter with information on each month’s harvest, green living tips, recipes, updates on the farm and other relevant topics. Shareholders also get invited to join regular farm trips to get to know the people who grow their food and learn first-hand about issues surrounding the land - health, economics, environment, and sustainability.

For more information, visit their blog at http://goodfoodco.wordpress.com

LUZON

ISLA CULION SOUVENIRS

Students from the Loyola College of Culion (LCC) saw opportunity with the increasing tourism activity in Culion Island and its neighbouring areas in Coron, Palawan and got inspired to set up a souvenir shop aimed at earning money not only for profit but also promote the welfare of the Tagbanuas (indigenous people living in the Calamianes Group of Islands) and promote the responsible use of natural resources.

Launched last December, the souvenir shop displayed the first prototypes of the eco-friendly souvenir items made by the Tagbanuas. As the souvenir shop is linked to the community outreach programmes of the LCC, it also showcases items made by LCC scholars and the work of Culion women – giving the community an image boost.  

Proceeds of the shop go into the development of the Tagbanua Development Center, which provides not only livelihood assistance but educational opportunities to this indigenous people’s group.

VISAYAS

3G (Go for Guso Group)

* also recipient of the Starbucks Shared Planet™ Award

The Gasa sa Guso (gifts from seaweed) project was borne out of a desire to improve the lives of the Pangan-an Island youth, after an outreach project joined by one team member to rehabilitate the Island’s library facilities.

The Island’s poor living conditions take its toll on the quality of education and lack of opportunities for young people’s development. To address these intertwining social problems, the team sought to find a sustainable program in education and livelihood opportunities in Pangan-an by establishing a youth cooperative engaged in guso (seaweed) farming.

Team 3G have conducted consultations with various stakeholders and are working their way towards formalising agreements with government and private partners.

Trainings in guso farming and entrepreneurship for high school students is seen to pave the way to managing the cooperative and the guso farm. Eventually, expansion to building a multi-purpose store, extending credit, are also foreseen as strategies to improve living standards among families in Pangan-an Island.

MINDANAO  

ENTREPRENEURS FOR RESPONDING THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICE (ERSS)

Management students from Xavier University thought of creating a business that would address two of the major problems faced by Cagayan de Oro today − garbage caused by rapid urbanisation and unemployment.

Finding inspiration in tarpaulin banners which are usually discarded shortly after their use, they came up with the idea of transforming them into trendy and useful bags and  

At the same time provide an opportunity to provide steady income to unemployed women in the nearby town of Balulang.

Calling themselves BagTarpreneurs – Jibrel, Barlow, Kenneth, Mike and Allen never imagined their school project would take off and become something real. Since July, they have since sold 300+ bags, partnered with event organisers, and are in the process of developing other designs to cater to a variety of clients.