JEDDAH, 29 March 2005 — The OFW Kapit-Bisig Organization, one of the more active Filipino groups in Jeddah, recently conducted various seminars on livelihood projects at the Nayong Pilipino Restaurant.
The seminars on “Cake and Pastry Making” and “Hair Cutting and Beauty Culture” were among the most popular projects they held, which were well-attended by participants from all walks of life.
The seminars were conducted over five consecutive Fridays, and aimed at developing the talents of every participant in the field of their specific interest. This project was held in cooperation with the Overseas Filipino Workers Cooperative Council (OFWCC).
Kapit-Bisig President Sarah Paraluman Atienza said, “We want to introduce livelihood seminars as much as we can to help our fellow kababayans, especially those who are going back the Philippines for good.”
“The training is part of our program to provide our compatriots with some skills that will be useful to them in earning extra income,” said Willy Ansis the current president of OFWCC.
The resource persons and experts who were invited to teach the proper way of baking presented the latest techniques in cake and pastry making. One of them, baker Allan Santos, demonstrated various ways of making pandesal (a Filipino type of bread).
“Nowadays, our kababayans are trying to learn something in order to earn. Kahit sa paggawa ng pandisal interesado sila (Even in pandisal making they’re so interested),” said Santos.
Atienza added that more livelihood programs are being planned in the near future, most of which are held more than once due to numerous requests by participants.
Some of the seminars that they have held in the past include fashion designing, tailoring, soap/candle making, and beauty culture.