Handmade Recycled Bags

CEBU, Philippines - Handmade bags from the Rise Above Foundation Cebu's RecyBags Livelihood Program were showcased by Cebu City Marriott Hotel during the recent Sinulog festivities. It was in line with Marriott International's "Spirit to Serve" advocacy.

Rise Above Foundation is a non-profit NGO focused on improving the quality of life for poor families in Cebu through skills training, health, hygiene and educational programs. Founded in 2000 thru the dedication and hard work of missionary Scandinavian couple Elisabet and Flemming Hansen, the organization helps poor Filipino families through feeding projects, family care and education, dental and medical missions and livelihood programs. 

In 2009, Rise Above partnered with Fair Trade Cebu in training unemployed mothers in making bags out of used rice and animal feed sacks. Since then, the trained mothers have been making bags of different shapes and sizes, from purses to large carry-all beach bags!  The bigger challenge turned out to be getting the bags out in the market for wider consumer appreciation, so that capital was reinvested to buy more materials to increase production and generate income for the participating mothers. The inventory of RecyBags was growing.

Cebu City Marriott Hotel stepped in to help the mothers.  By providing the Rise Above Foundation with a venue to showcase their creations of fashionable hand-woven RecyBags last January 16-17 at the Marriott lobby, the hotel brought the handmade items to the attention of a captured market of in-house guests, diners and party revelers during the Sinulog festival. And soon the hotel guests were walking around with their personalized RecyBags!  All proceeds went to Rise Above Foundation. 

Those who want to know more about the Rise Above Foundation may visit their office at #252 I Limkakeng St., Happy Valley Subdivision, Cebu City or their website at www.RiseAbove-Cebu.org  or at Facebook at Rise Above Foundation Cebu. Their phone number is (032) 255-1063. (FREEMAN)