CHED and ASU: Working Together for the Livelihood Enhancement of Rural Women

ASU, Banga-The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through its Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF) provided funding assistance worth One hundred Thousand Pesos (P100, 000.00) to the Aklan State University (ASU) for the Livelihood Enhancement of Rural Women.

The CHED and ASU recognize that reduction of rural poverty and ensuring food security are some of the major concerns of the government.  To carry this out, there is a need to strengthen the participation of the citizen, particularly the women, including marginalized women by promoting and supporting self-employment and development of small enterprise.  To attain this, they must be provided with opportunities and means to improve their welfare through the introduction of alternative sources of income.

The Aklan State University through its Extension and Community Services (ASU-ECS) extends technical assistance of its faculty, the Home Technology Department of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, to the community which seeks to improve their socio-economic condition.  Thus, the project “Livelihood Enhancement for Rural Women” was conceptualized which aimed to; (1) provide equipment for training on livelihood projects, (2) provide alternative source of income for rural women, (3) uplift the socio-economic condition of the rural women and their families, and (4) alleviate poverty through livelihood projects.

Through the funding assistance provided by the CHED, the project will focus on the acquisition of equipment such as Hi-speed sewing machine for sewing and embroidery, heavy dough mixer, food warmer for siopao, digital weighing scale, service trays, forceps for deboning, stainless steamer, salinometer, refractometer, electric beater, and various cooking and baking utensils to be used for training on livelihood projects.  The training participants/beneficiaries will have an access on the equipment during the training and in starting their own project.  Training modules and training for the community on specific technologies will also be provided and organized by the University.