The Empowered Women of Gifts and Graces
“Empowered women and girls have a truly transformative role to play in all our societies, with benefits for all. Around the world, healthy, educated, employed, and empowered women break poverty cycles – not only for themselves, but for their families, communities, and countries too.”
- Helen Clark, administrator, U.N. Development Program
International Women's Month, observed in March every year, honors women and their contributions to society. To celebrate women's month this year, Gifts and Graces will hold a roving exhibit from March 3 to April 1, 2011 dubbed Women Empowerment through Livelihood and Entrepreneurship that pays tribute to the women we have been privileged to meet and work with, who have dared overcome poverty through entrepreneurship. This month-long exhibit at four major SM Malls - SM MOA, SM Southmall, SM Megamall, and SM North Edsa includes an ongoing product demonstration on weekends and a chance to meet one of our remarkable women producers.
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| Exhibit at SM Southmall |
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| Visitors stop in to watch the crafts demonstration at Southmall |
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| Exhibit at SM Mall of Asia |
The exhibit showcases the stories of six wonderful women from five Gifts and Graces partner communities: Ate Zeny of Kapitbahayan, Ate Minda and Juliet from FCED Foundation, Aling Marina of Kaibhan, Ate Jenny of Alay Kapwa Tindahan, and Ate Lita of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan. Their stories of empowerment includes finding their voice and becoming leaders in their communities, being able to send their children to school, and finding pride in what they do. Intertwined in the stories of these six women are the products they make with pride and are championed under the G&G brand. The products handcrafted by these women are imbued with love and the spirit of determination with which they were made.
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| From left to right: Tessa Valdez, Sandy Romualdez, Juliet Quimbo, Marina Espera, Jenny Llamado, Zeny de Guzman, Annie Garcia. Seated: Lita Evangelista |
On March 24, Gifts and Graces held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the SM Megamall Atrium. The event was attended by Gifts and Graces president Sandy Romualdez, donor and patron Tessa Valdez, SM President and G&G Board member Annie Garcia, SM Women's Committee Head Jen Colayco and SM Megamall officers as well as G&G partners. Tessa Valdez made a donation of P50,000 to Gifts and Graces in behalf of Assumption Batch 81.
To read more about the exhibit, please follow the links to The Manila Bulletin and the Philippine Daily Inquirer who wrote about the exhibit. Thanks to Tessa, MB, PDI, Annie Garcia and SM Supermalls and all those who supported the event! Gifts and Graces works with many more women who in turn have their own stories. We hope to feature their stories through our newsletters and this blog in the months to come.
