Rotary Update: Linda Hoops works to weave a brighter future » Evansville Courier & Press

Linda Hoops works to weave a brighter future » Evansville Courier & Press: "The program was the brainchild of childhood friends in Manila. Lulu Trinidad-Ocampo adapted a technique of weaving folded newspaper sheets into bags and wallets. She realized the skill could be a source of livelihood for those in need and developed it into the 'Bags for Life' program.

Newspaper sheets are folded by disabled workers and then woven and sewn into bags by women who do the work in their homes. The program allows them to make a living and it is a way to recycle newspapers and plastic bags.

Ocampo's sister, Mila Trinidad-Puyat, who is now the president of a Rotary Club in Manila, partnered the marketing arm of her organization with her sister's project. Once the bags are created, the Rotary project, called D'yario Bags, buys them in bulk, adds some painting and creative touches and resells them.

Puyat told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the bags practically sell themselves. The same program has been successful in other parts of the Philippines.

Hoops learned of the program on one of her yearly visits to the Philippines. She brought back a suitcase full of the bags to sell and use for not-for-profit auctions here. But she believes it could become a cottage industry here as well."

Women's Causes Update: New tech voc, gender-sensitivity training curriculum

New tech voc, curriculum drafted | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "To break the division along gender lines in technical vocational (tech-voc) education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are coming out with a gender-sensitivity training curriculum.

TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva Wednesday said the curriculum will be rolled out among its trainees and trainers under an agreement with the UNFPA, which gave a total of $89,083 grant. “Embedding the gender dimension is an initiative to empower women across societies,” he said.

In the Letter of Understanding (LoU), the partnership was formalized between the two agencies to implement the project component of the Joint Programme on Youth Employment and Migration (YEM) aiming to bring to technical vocational education and training (TVET) gender-sensitivity and life skills.

“We have opened a wider venue for women, making available variety of courses that they can enrol in, including those previously thought to be only for men. But much more needs to be done and we are continuously working on it,” Villanueva explained."

Children's Causes Update: House okays bill vs child punishment - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines

House okays bill vs child punishment - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "Lawmakers on Wednesday night crossed party lines to pass HB 4455, which will require erring parents to undergo counseling on children’s rights and positive and non-violent discipline of children and anger management.

Under the bill, corporal punishment refers to cruel and unusual punishment or acts that subject the child to indignities and other excessive chastisement that embarrasses or humiliates the child. It includes physical punishment and is imposed by an adult or by another child to discipline, train or control the victim.

Parents found guilty of severe corporal punishment on a child will be penalized under the provisions of Republic Act 7610 or anti-child abuse law.

Persons entrusted with the child, particularly teachers, guardians, yayas and relatives, face maximum penalties provided for under existing laws.

On the other hand, persons who intervene to save a child from further harm are exempt from any liability.

Among prohibited punishment on a child are blows, but not limited to kicking; hitting, slapping, beating, and lashing any part of the child’s body. Also banned are pinching (kurot), pulling of ears (pengot) or hair (sabunot), cutting or shaving of hair, spanking with hand and whipping with belt, among others."

The bill also considers as unlawful the use of power, authority or threats on the child and forcing the minor to kneel on stones, salt or pebbles, and squatting.

On the other hand, acceptable methods of imposing discipline are the following: reprimand, Grandma’s Rule, Beat-the-Clock, praise, and others.

Herrera-Dy, vice chair of the House committee on the welfare of children, said responsibility building or making a child perform age-appropriate and simple household chores is also encouraged.

She said all records about corporal punishment case will be considered confidential. Publication of the identity of the victim and immediate family member will be penalized with a P200,000 fine.

Wellness in Trade & Industry: DTI, DOLE tie up in training OFWs become entrepreneurs - The Philippine Star » News » Business

DTI, DOLE tie up in training OFWs become entrepreneurs - The Philippine Star » News » Business: "The DOLE, through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs has tapped the DTI through the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) to organize a training package for overseas workers and encourage them to venture into business.

These free training sessions, which began this July, consist of key topics on how to start a business, entrepreneurial education activities where they learn the business cycle, market supply and demand, and selling as well as preparing the business plan.

A study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) noted that overseas remittances could spur local development through entrepreneurship. The study also cited the role of government to provide support mechanisms to overseas workers and remittance-receiving families who are self-employed or who have entered into enterprises.

In 2010, the DTI, through the PTTC, has organized similar trainings for som"