“. Ang mga kabataang may kapansanan ay may kakayanan sa kabuhayan” (in english : Youth with disabilities have livelihoods)
On June 19, 2023, Virlanie Foundation and Department of Agriculture (DA)-Agricultural Training Institute- Regional Training Center Calabarzon, City and Provincial Agriculture Office of Dasmariñas, Cavite signed a memorandum of agreement in capacitating young people with disability through urban gardening.
Virlanie’s Independent Living Program developed the 4K Project: Kakayanan, Kabuhayan ng mga Kabataang may Kapansanan. This aims to capacitate young people with disabilities through gardening, baking & cooking, housekeeping, and laundry, eventually placing them into possible employment.
The 4K Project aligned with the “Halamanan sa Bahay Kalinga” Program of the Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Training Institute Calabarzon. Thus, the partnership helps to encourage and educate the staff and children on planting seeds, bearing hundreds of vegetables for daily consumption, and providing livelihood. Eventually, this will help provide sheltered employment to the young people with disabilities in Virlanie.
The MOU was signed in the presence of:
Mrs. Arlyne A. Fernandez, RSW (Virlanie Executive Director), Ms. Faidah Cayongcat, RSW (Virlanie Residential Program Manager), Ms. Jessica Mae Lagatic, RSW (Virlanie Independent Living Program Coordinator), Ms. Jennifer S. Ibayan (City Agriculturist, Dasmariñas, Cavite), Ms. Lorna Aviñante (OIC- Provincial Agriculturist, Cavite), Ms. Vira Elyssa L. Jamolin (Training Specialist III), Dr. Rolando V. Maningas (TCSII/Center Director), Ms. Cherime Caermare and Ms. Soledad E. (Lead Agriculturist II).
“It’s important to have this partnership with our Independent Living Program, permit the children to develop their skills in gardening and have employment in the agriculture service. We intend to build more partnerships like this in the future to provide more knowledge skills and resource for our children. We are thankful to the DA- ATI Calabarzon, Provincial Agriculture Office, City Agriculturist of Dasmariñas, Cavite, and EMpower for helping in making the 4K Project possible. ” affirmed Ms Arlyne Fernandez.
THE INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM
The Young Adults Program (YAP) which was created in 2001 and the LIFE program which was created in 2011 merged in the Independent Living Program (ILP) in 2015, providing vocational training and life skills for young adults on their way to independence. The Independent Living Program aims to empower and support young adults to become self-sustaining and independent individuals, towards the road to complete independence.
