A woman who fled her home in 2017 after a terrorist attack in a town on the Philippine island of Mindanao is building a future for herself sewing and selling handbags as part of a close-knit women’s cooperative supported by the government. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The producers’ cooperative Olango Sindaw Ko Kauyagan Piagapo, a village situated in the hills above Lake Lanao, was created in the wake of the so-called Siege of Marawi, in which ISIS-affiliated terrorists attacked and occupied Marawi City for a period of five months.
The group of 38 women includes 18 who fled to Piagapo from their homes in Marawi.
Among them is Asnia Dalan, who spoke to UN News at the cooperative’s workshop.
“I had no choice but to leave my home in Marawi when the city was attacked. I was very scared and escaped with four of my children with only the belongings we could carry. Fortunately, my other three children were not living at home at the time. We walked for five hours to reach Piagapo.
I have mixed feelings about that moment. No one expected the attack, but when it happened, I lost everything I had worked for in the blink of an eyeI used to sell sandals in the old market, but that business was destroyed when the terrorists came. It makes me very angry to remember that.
I came to Piagapo because I have family here and I started to cultivate land and vegetables, as well as peanuts and corn.
The cooperative is made up of displaced people like me and people from the area. We all get along very well and enjoy working together, not only in the fields, but also in our new sewing workshop. There is always laughter while we learn and work.
I found it easy to adjust to my new life here and now we have a close-knit community.
We received training on sewing machines and now We make a range of products including bags, curtains and sheets.We started making sheets, but we have acquired more skill and now we make bags of different styles.
Initially, 15 people were trained, who in turn passed on their knowledge to the other members of the cooperative.
Last month I sold 15 sheets for 500 pesos ($8.50) each. Most of the money goes to the cooperative to be reinvested in materials and the running of the workshop, but I made 1,500 pesos ($25.50) for myself.
Currently, my favorite piece is a green printed bag I made from traditional fabric. I like the color because It symbolizes paradise and peace for Muslims like me.It’s a good size and I think it would be useful for a mother to carry baby items like diapers and creams.
We work in shifts so we can use all ten machines, but we are often interrupted when the power goes out. We hope to get a generator so we can work more consistently.
I prefer sewing to working in the fields because I can stay inside and I’m protected from the sun. Farming is hard, so I would like to earn enough money to live off sewing, but I haven’t managed it yet..
My advice to anyone who wants to get into sewing is to learn and always try out new designs. Then, of course, you have to keep practicing to improve.
“I have visited Marawi from time to time, but I have no intention of returning to live there. My new life is here and I have more opportunities, especially when it comes to sewing.”
Agriculture remains the main economic activity in the town of Piagapo.
Other data
- The Olango Sindaw Ko Kauyagan producers’ cooperative is supported by the UNDP project “Improving food security and livelihoods in Bangsamoro”
- The aim of the project is to support and sustain peace consolidation and recovery.
- It was funded by the government of Japan, a long-standing peace partner in the Bangsamoro region.
- Several institutional partners implemented the project to empower communities through business development
- This initiative seeks to foster sustainable livelihoods and create a solid foundation for lasting peace in the Bangsamoro.
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