On November 28-29, 2024, FundLife, through its Girls Got This initiative, held a transformative Social Enterprise Workshop, gathering 31 teenage girls from seven partner schools across Tacloban City. The workshop aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to create impactful social enterprises, empowering them to address pressing community challenges through innovative solutions. The schools represented included Scandinavian National High School, Tacloban National Agricultural School, Guadalupe Heights Integrated School, Northern Tacloban City High School, Sagkahan National High School, Leyte National High School, and Northern Tacloban City National High School.
The Social Enterprise Workshop is part of FundLife’s broader commitment to empowering young women by offering multiple developmental pathways. In addition to the Social Enterprise Pathway, participants are also provided options to join Digital Literacy Training and Play Leadership Training, ensuring diverse opportunities to build their skills and confidence. This workshop catered to those interested in addressing social issues through entrepreneurial innovation.
The workshop spanned two days and was designed to provide a comprehensive and hands-on learning experience. The first day focused on foundational knowledge, including understanding what a social enterprise is, identifying social issues in their communities, coming up with viable solutions through social enterprise, and learning the legal requirements for starting a business in the Philippines. Participants were guided through the process of registering a business and explored various funding sources. A dedicated session on financial literacy provided critical insights into managing finances effectively for social enterprises.
The second day delved into the challenges faced by social enterprises and strategies to overcome them. Participants were introduced to the key components of crafting an effective pitch and were given ample time to work on their business proposals. The sessions combined theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring participants left with actionable plans.
Youth mentors actively assisted in conducting the sessions, guiding and encouraging the participants as they worked through the activities. The facilitators, Ms. Kimberly Lopez, Head of Operations, and Mr. Patrick P. Relles, Communications Officer, brought their knowledge and expertise to the sessions, ensuring the learning process was engaging, impactful, and accessible.
The workshop will culminate on December 14, 2024, with a pitching event where participants will present their final proposals before a panel of industry experts and mentors. To encourage innovation and provide a tangible starting point for their ideas, the best proposals will be awarded seed capital of 30,000 pesos. Individuals or teams with the best proposals will also be paired with experienced mentors to support them in launching and managing their enterprises.
This workshop was a learning opportunity and a platform for empowerment, aligning with FundLife’s mission to equip vulnerable youth with the skills and confidence to transform their futures. By focusing on social enterprise, the event highlighted the potential of young women to drive meaningful change in their communities. Through initiatives like this, FundLife continues to inspire youth to envision and create a world where they can truly "dream in color."
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