Talitha Women Empowerment Programs (TWEPs)

To educate women in the field of technology, emergency, self-sustainability, survival and social development, thus, making a Talitha woman (Talithan) skilled and equipped (empowered) in numerous ways.

All women under Talitha, aged 18 and above, be she a recipient, a laymember, or an officer.

A filled-up Talitha Membershop form and Membership Covenant.

Status

• Pre-Talithan:      A Talitha woman who is under training.
  
• Pro-Talithan:      A Talitha woman who has passed all trainings with flying colors and is considered a professional.
  

1. COMPUTER LITERACY

   The Foundation will be setting up Talitha Foundation Empowered Women of Information Technology (Computer Learning Center, Desktop Publishing and Internet Cafe) for the benefit of the following:

   1. Talitha Women. They will be taught computer literacy using various softwares from simple encoding, desktop publishing and web editing, and will be trained in-house (OJT) so they will have the opportunity to earn a living. Even while they are training, they get commissions from the jobs they have done. If they have the opportunity to work elsewhere other than Talitha, they are free to do so. By then Talitha has succeeded in making them competent and confident to stand on their own.
      
      
   2. The rest of the people. Anyone can avail of the services offered by Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Information Technology (TWEP-IT) [Computer Learning Center, Desktop Publishing and Internet Cafe] for a very competitive pricing structure without sacrificing quality and speed.
      
      
   3. The Foundation. Talitha will have a major tool in enhancing the lives of its beneficiaries at the same time will have an opportunity to earn extra from #2 to be able to further its aims for its beneficiaries.
      
      
2. BASIC ACCOUNTING AND BOOKKEEPING

   Talitha women will be taught Basic Accounting and Bookkeeping to be able to manage and record finances especially when putting up their own business, however little it is.

3. DRESSMAKING AND TAILORING

   Everyone needs clothing to wear. Either people shop for RTWs or go to a shop to have one made according to exact measurements. Talitha women will be taught Dressmaking and Tailoring to be able to serve those who go to a shop or mass-produce RTWs for a contractor or financier for livelihood and at the same time save much by sewing her own familyÕs clothing needs. Talitha will also open its shop, Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Needle & Thread Shop (Clothes for All Occasion, All Ages, and Household Fashion) where the dressmakers and tailors are the result of the training supervised by the trainors themselves to ensure quality of work.

4. HAIR AND BEAUTY CULTURE

   Being able to do hair and nail works is a skill. So is massage like accupressure and foot spa services. Talitha women will be taught these skills to be able to make it a livelihood opportunity. Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Beauty and Wellness Salon (Hair & Makeup and Massage [Hand & Foot] Parlor for Everyone) will be set up where our Talitha women will be trained. It will also be a shop where our women will have the opportunity to hone the skills they have learned. The shop will offer competitive prices to attract clients. Home servicing will be a highlight as we expect many to be trained, though, those who will do home servicing are those who have become experts, free trom the eyes of the trainors.

5. FOOD PROCESSING, PRESERVATION, COOKING AND BAKING

   Food is a basic need for everyone. The food business has always topped the charts. Talitha women will be taught different food processing techniques that can be done at home like pickling, peanut butter making, bangus deboning, beef corning, etc. Homemade products like beef tapa, spanish-style sardines and hams do have a market and our women will be able to provide for them while earning extra income. Frozen delights and dried fruits will also be included. The future shop will be called Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Cakes & Pastries and Catering Services for All Occasion which can also be the mother of its future elegant restaurant which is a rarity nowadays. The elite of the town will have then another option aside from those they frequent miles away at the same time feel good inside that they have helped the Talitha Foundation beneficiaries by patronizing the restaurant, or any other Talitha shop, for that matter.

6. FIRST AID AND BASIC SURVIVAL SKILLS

   Being able to do what has to be done in cases of medical emergency will save money, time, and lives. There have been thousands, or even millions perhaps, of cases where people have died because no one around knows CPR. There are also cases where a fall wouldnÕt have caused a life if only the person around knew that the victim should not be moved. A simple wound would have been healed in a few days had a family member knew the right treatment. Normally, especially in depressed areas, going to a doctor is not an immediate solution because of lack of money. But if first aid is taught, especially to a Talithan (mother or not), cases of loss or gravity of situation due to lack of money will be lessened. At least, a first-aider will know if a person should really bring the patient to a doctor. Training will also include the right way to apply bandage. Also, knowing the different knots for different uses will be knowledge worth keeping and using in additional to other survival skills, just like a scout, always ready. She will be a benefit to her community and to anyone who needs her attention whereever she is.

7. BASIC CARPENTRY AND WOODWORKING

   Why teach carpentry to Talitha women when carpentry is for men? Because while there is no man to do the job, especially during emergency, a Talitha woman can. Just knowing the principle and being able to measure, saw, and nail will save a poor family construction money and in times of emergency, a Talitha woman is ready. This training can also introduce woodworking to our Talithans as a craft which is the second phase of the training, building assorted furniture.

8. BASIC ELECTRICITY

   Just like Basic Carpentry, knowing how to handle electricity will save money. A simple changing of fuse or plugs to keep appliances safe will not require an electrician if only one knows the basics of electricity. Knowing what to do and what not to do will also keep the house and household safe.

9. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

   A Talitha woman will be taught the proper way of handling herself -- with confidence, self-respect, and poise especially when dealing with the elite. How to conduct herself in special occasions, how to eat with right manners during banquets or elegant restaurants, how to talk with high officials in a corporation, how to talk and walk with elegance and femininity, how to dress for an occasion, etc. that anyone who sees her will never see a trace that she is only from an underpriviledged society. This training program will also teach Talithans how to serve with class. A Talithan will no longer be afraid of all the forks, spoons and knives arranged on the table as she will be skilled in setting it up as well as eat with ease during a formal dinner.

10. COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL ART

    Talitha women will be taught how to create and see art for the purpose of making extra income out of it and at the same time having an avenue to relieve stress as art relaxes the body and mind. Drawing and color combination will be a basic skill. Perspectives and proportions will be important in projecting the right image.

11. FLORAL AND VEGETABLE GARDENING

    Flowers always have a market, used for religious activities, festivities and occasions like weddings, baptismals, debuts, caterings and even deaths. Vegetables also have a wide market and beneficial to our body system. Learning to plant and grow these the right way will put money to our Talitha womenÕs pockets and make a livelihood out of their harvest.

12. FLORAL ARRANGEMENT

    Arranging flowers in an artistic way is a skill. Talitha women will be taught this skill to be able to make their own arrangement from their own harvest which they can make money out of. Being an art, it also relaxes the body and mind and relieves stress. A future shop will be set up, the Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Flower Shop for All Occasions.

13. CANDLE ART

    Candle art has been a growing trend for the past several years. It is used to decorate the house or office when not lit. Others buy for the aroma theraphy it brings. Others buy it for religious purposes and others for the Halloween aside from the wakes that occupy the berieved familyÕs home or a funeral home. Talitha women will be taught how to make candle art to be able to open an opportunity for income and at the same time relieve them from stress while creating the art. The finished product will be displayed at the Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Gifts, Souvenirs & Knick-Knacks Shop for sale.

14. PAPER RECYCLING AND CARD MAKING

    Recycled paper has been an accepted trend and fashion to save the trees. There are many things we can do out of used paper. One is to pulp it again and make a new, more fashionable, more artistic kind of paper which can be used as stationery for special people, or even as cards, which will have a personal touch because no two sets will be alike. Cards and special papers have a wide market especially for teenagers, the single people, and the special people. Wedding, debut, and baptismal invitation cards can also be made out of recycled paper and make a positive impact to the receiver. Talitha women will be taught the tricks to be able to deliver the need and at the same time save some trees. Pressed flowers will also be used for cards. Finished products will be displayed at the Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Gifts, Souvenirs & Knick-Knacks Shop for sale.

15. THE ART OF SELLING

    Everytime we do a service for someone else or create a product for someone else, before it can reach that someone else we should have been able to sell. But not everybody is skilled to sell and most are timid to even approach others. Knowing the art of selling will be a cementing ingredient for a Talithan to offer her skills and creations to others that will generate income most needed not only for survival but for rising up from her current status in life.

16. MUSIC

    As a natural part of a Filipino culture, this is an opportunity for the music lovers to be trained and the musically inclined to excel even more either by voice or by an instrument. This is also an avenue to express oneÕs self and can be an opener to opportunities as a professional singer, composer, or instrumental player.

17. SELF DEFENSE

    Being the weaker vessel, a woman is normally a victim of molest, hold-up, hostage, rape, etc. Talithans will be trained Basic Aikido to be able to defend herself in dangerous situations. Instead of being a victim, there is hope for escape. Why Aikido? Because it is a skill where one needs not to be big or strong. ItÕs knowing what to do and doing it using the force of the assailant.

18. DRIVING AND BASIC AUTO MECHANIC TROUBLESHOOTING SKILLS

    Knowing how to drive is a plus factor especially during emergencies. Time is of essence when a person needs to be rushed to a hospital. A Talithan need not depend on a specific driver when she can do it herself. When something goes wrong on the road she will also be able to troubleshoot the problem and fix it on her own if itÕs solution will only need tools kept in the vehicle, or know exactly when she needs to call an auto shop. The skill will save time and money and will also be an opportunity for livelihood.

    Where will these training courses be held? There are two options.

    One, is to purchase a land and erect a 4-storey building where all the trainings, activities and shops can be held. With this option, not only will everything Talitha will be in one place but the burden of renting every month where the rental money goes only to the building owner will be eliminated. In buying a realty property, we are paying for something we are owning.

    The second option is to rent. If funding for realty property is limited, the only other option is to rent or lease. The down part is there will be different locations for each training course and shop and the ÒconnectorÓ will be the internet where each training room will have a set of computer with webcam for every room to be monitored in one place --the office. The first option is preferred but will do with the second option at the moment the first option is not yet feasible.

    Then, what?
    

    A Talithan passes a training program only when she is able to pass on what she has learned, having the opportunity to be the trainor, creating her own course outline or relaying the learned course outline, as her final exam. Only then will she graduate from the specific training program.

    After being equipped, when she graduates from a training program, she is now ready to be an OJT, with allowance, and after 3 months she will be able to pay back the training course she took either in full or installment so that another Talithan can be equipped without draining the funds that we need to use wisely. We call this ÒStudy Now, Work After, Pay LaterÓ scheme. Each training course will have a Training Fee attached to it based on the average cost per student, without interest. The fee is just to revolve the funds and benefit another student, and so on and on. It will also give each student the sense of responsibility of valuing her training dearly.

    First generation trainors can come from professionals who are not necessarily Talithans until a qualified Talithan can take over. Ultimately all shops and trainings will be run and conducted by Talithans.

    The following are the future shops to open as soon as possible to generate livelihood opportunities for our Talithans:

    • Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Information Technology (Computer Learning Center, Desktop Publishing and Internet Cafe)
      
      
    • Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Needle & Thread Shop (Clothes for All Occasion, All Ages, and Household Fashion)
      
      
    • Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Beauty and Wellness Salon (Hair & Makeup and Massage [Hand & Foot] Parlor for Everyone)
      
      
    • Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Cakes & Pastries and Catering Services for All Occasions
      
      
    • Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Flower Shop for All Occasions
      
      
    • Talitha Women Empowerment Program - Gifts, Souvenirs & Knick-Knacks Shop
      
      
    AN EXAMPLE

    A couple is ready to be married. One or all of their following needs can be served by the Talithans:

    1. Wedding Coordinator (trained from Social Development training program)
       
       
    2. Invitations and Programs (trained from Computer Literacy and Paper Recycling & Card Making training programs)
       
       
    3. Gowns and Other Apparel (trained from Dressmaking and Tailoring training program)
       
       
    4. Catering (trained from Food Processing, Preservation, Cooking and Baking training program)
       
       
    5. Cake (trained from Food Processing, Preservation, Cooking and Baking, Basic Carpentry [for cake stands] and Basic Electricity [for lighting effects] training programs)
       
       
    6. Backdrop (trained from Computer Literacy and Commercial and Social Art training programs)
       
       
    7. Flowers [bridal bouquet, car bouquet, corsage, hall decor] (trained from Floral Arrangement training program)
       
       
    8. Hall Decor (trained from Commercial and Social Art and Floral Arrangement training programs)
       
       
    9. Master of Ceremony (trained from Social Development training program)
       
       
    10. Singers/Choir (trained from Music training program)
        
        
    11. Souvenirs (trained from Commercial and Social Art training program)
        
        
    12. Video Coverage (trained from Computer Literacy training program)
        
        
    13. Overall Costing/Budgeting (trained from Basic Accounting and Bookkeeping training program)
        
        
    14. Dealer (trained from The Art of Selling training program). The Dealer is the person the wedding couple will be talking to or dealing with.
        
        
    15. Emergencies during the activity. Accidents do happen and it usually does when one is not ready for it and in most cases in a humiliating manner like choking while at a wedding reception or debut or a childrenÕs party, tripping off the aisle and getting a sprain, or losing consciousness. At times like these, a Talithan can always be of help because she is trained for emergencies and for being resourceful.
        
        

    This is just to say that if the Talithans can serve the needs of a wedding couple, how much more the simpler ones?