ABOITIZ-LED Rafi Microfinance Inc. is accelerating its efforts in building more women micro-entrepreneurs in Cebu.
On Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, the group inked a partnership with Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD) to provide young women an opportunity to become successful micro-entrepreneurs.
Rafi MFI and the BCPD would provide young women beneficiaries training, mentoring and livelihood opportunities that could help uplift their lives from poverty.
“Rafi MFI and BCPD will work together to implement the program to help these young women to embark from a journey of education to becoming self-employed micro-preneurs,” said Jonar Dorado, Rafi MFI chief operating officer.
Initially, Rafi MFI and BCPD target more than 100 beneficiaries for three to four months, but they expect the number to increase after the pilot run.
“We are very grateful for our partnership with Rafi Micro-finance Inc. because BCPD graduates are assured to break the cycle of poverty within the family and uplift their living condition through the various programs of Rafi,” said Elizabeth Lopez, BCPD school director.
Lopez said the partnership will serve as a vehicle for them to become an entrepreneur using the skills they learned from BCPD. Rafi MFI will also give them the opportunity to undergo on-the-job training to help them eventually get employed.
Rafi MFI will also give them access to its clustering livelihood program where livelihood starter kits will be provided, opening them to Rafi MFI’s financial and non-financial services that will help their starter enterprises get off the ground.
Moreover, the microfinance arm of Rafi will also engage the beneficiaries to choose a viable and socially sound starter enterprise that they can sustain. They will also provide qualified scholars and beneficiaries access to the Mauswagon loans, which can help them with the needed capital for their planned small business undertakings.
Beneficiaries of the program will also be given assistance in terms of guidance or “handholding” and market linkages.
BCPD, on the other hand, will provide the Technical Skills and Development Authority-accredited training and mentor the program’s scholars and beneficiaries so that they would have the know-how to help them sustain their livelihood.