What would otherwise end up as discarded pieces of fabric found a new purpose as rugs—and a possible source of livelihood—through Project UNLAD 1.0: Uplifting Communities through Rug Making, held at Lingap-Pangarap ng mga Batang Paslit Inc., August 15.

The initiative introduced rug making as a practical way of turning donated fabric scraps into functional products while equipping community beneficiaries with a skill that can be developed into a sustainable livelihood opportunity.

Behind the activity was a collaboration among Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas Extension Services Office, College of Business and Accountancy (CBA), College of Education (CEDUC), and Lingap-Pangarap ng mga Batang Paslit Inc.

Rather than simply donating finished goods, the project centered on sharing a skill that beneficiaries can continue to use beyond the activity.

CLB faculty and staff, community partners, and beneficiaries worked alongside one another in transforming the donated materials into rugs, combining environmental responsibility with skills development and community participation.

The activity also demonstrated the value of upcycling, as materials that might otherwise be treated as waste were given another life as useful products.

Supporting the initiative were PCCI Metro Batangas, Batangas Asahi Marketing Corp., and Big Mama Logistics Services, whose contributions complemented the participation of CLB volunteers and the beneficiary community.

The collaboration extended the project beyond a one-day rug-making activity by bringing together the academe, private sector, and community organization around a shared approach to sustainable community development.

Project UNLAD 1.0 forms part of CLB CARES—Community Advancement through Responsive Education and Sustainable Services, which serves as the institution's framework for extension initiatives responsive to community needs.

For Project UNLAD, the idea was simple: what begins as a piece of discarded fabric can become something useful when paired with the right skill and opportunity.




via CLIMB