Quote Originally Posted by architect View Post
*Niky,

kitsons is a a First Quarter Storm veteran. Kaya bow ako jan.

*Kitsons,

Sorry for unintentionally revealing your age.

As for the outreach programs, the problem is most of them are done half-halfheartedly. In the programs that I have participated in, we make sure the top graduates are given projects or businesses that can hopefully become self-sustaining.

E.G. If we teach the participants to be barbers, we start a cooperative-type barbershop in their community. If we teach the participants how to sew, we set-up sewing shops where they can make their products, then we buy the products and sell them to wholesalers. It may not be much, and each program we do will certainly not change the world. But it is a start. More importantly, it changes the world of the beneficiaries. And that is what counts, especially from their perspective.

You are dealing with the economic strata mobile intelligentsia that in most probability will not desire to go for the kuliglig.

I remember the priest name, Fr. Ben Carreon SVD, who actually is more realistic in looking at the situation since he have had a lot of heart aches in his desire to ameliorate the living condition of the poor.

He gave the starting idea on how to work with the poor with their set minds on how they live their lives, especially as concern their livelihood.

Only those who come from a line of barbers and has the aptitude can become barbers within the cooperative. Human resources have to be categorized as per what is there already and not try to mold the poeple to our view of what they could be or should be to attain development.

I definitely agree with you that the poor cannot come up with the proper economic resources to set up their own businesses but perhaps the view should be more holistic.

In Alabang getting a haircut is now down to just P25 per haircut. There is the need to match aptitude with economic demand for the goods and services that those aptitude can be applied.

Your vision of reactivating small auto repair shops is sure one good way of applying aptitude to demand if we can get our own vehicles rolling.

Disclosure of age is no problem as some one said that aging with wisdom comes with no regret but fulfillment. Seems all of us here in this forum is getting there and most probably die with a smile on the face... left to the discretion of everyone why the smile!