Chinese Scholarship Recipients
The UN Federal Credit Union
We are happy to report that we have received a donation of $5,000 (five thousand dollars) from the UN Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) for our Scholarship Program, as something unique and innovative. We are grateful for this contribution as it will provide a dream and opportunities to the girls in receipt of our scholarship. We will make sure that this contribution will be most effectively used.
Eri Silk Worms
Spinning the Silk
Weaving
Dyeing
Weaving
Our Activities
WIN operates its scholarship programs in Bangladesh, China (Guizhou Province), India, Nepal and Pakistan. The scholarship is offered to girls from very poor families who otherwise would have no opportunity to go to school at all. On average, about 12-13 girls benefit from this scholarship program in each country. In Guizhou, China, there are about 40 recipients and the Provincial government matches our contribution by the same amount. For these programs, a reputable women's organization is selected in each country to administer our scholarship program on our behalf without charging us any overhead, which enables our students to receive 100% of the funds remitted. The recipients are selected by the organizations concerned and they vary from primary school children to college students. Some recipients have already graduated colleges and are making positive contributions to society as teachers, nurses and NGO officials.
Scholarship Recipients from China
Scholarship Recipients from Nepal
A women's self-help project is carried out in the Philippines. A few groups of women are being trained in "Eri-silk" production techniques and produce cocoons and yarn from tropical Eri-silk worms, which feed on Cassava and Caster plant leaves. They spin, dye, knit and weave, producing silk scarves and other products for sale in Japan and elsewhere on a "fair trade" basis. The sale proceeds are plowed back to the producers without any middleman, thus ensuring maximum earnings for the women concerned.
A small micro-credit project is operating designed to help poor women on the Island of Palawan, Philippines, under a grant from a Japanese corporation. Under this project, women who are interested in establishing small businesses but without any assets or collateral will be able to have access to credit facilities. They will then be one step towards economic independence.
It will also add AIDS prevention advocacy to its operational agenda.
How we monitor and evaluate our activities
Scholarships
We request and receive an annual report from each organization administering our scholarship program. In addition, we visit these countries once in 3 years and interview the organization officials concerned and each recipient. Based on our on-the-spot reviews, we satisfy ourselves that our scholarship program is effectively implemented and appreciated by every one concerned.
Nepal Scholarship Review - 2009
Eri Silk Production
We visit the project three times a year to give technical guidance. In addition to providing revenue-producing activities, the project is designed to reducing slash-and-burn agriculture widely practiced by the local population. The women concerned are constantly guided to acquire better and higher skills in order to produce better quality items. The local governments and farmers now appreciate our activities as unique and valuable. Consequently, we are expanding our activities to new areas.
Kit Kitatani, Akiko Kitatani and Honami Hara of NPO 2050, Japan, were in Palawan, Philippines from 17 to 28 November 2008 to conduct workshops in two places, i.e.; Puerto Princesa and Port Barton.
At the time of their visit, it was decided that the Eri-silk Association should relocate itself to a temporary location, as the building in which the Association is located would soon be renovated. It was also decided to establish a training center at a place called Aborlan, some 10 miles away from Puerto Princesa in order to raise Eri-silk worms all year round and to secure enough cocoons required by the Association members. Two staff members will be trained at this center so that spinning training may be conducted for young girls in need of some technical training and income. A similar center will also be established at Kabayugan so that there may be enough production of cocoons and yarn all year round. The members of Eri-silk Association may purchase either cocoons or yarn produced by these centers, using the micro-credit facility available to them, and produce knitted or woven products.
Both at Puerto Princesa and Port Barton, the three from NPO 2050 examined the final products brought in by the members, introduced new weaving techniques using a new loom recently sent in from Japan, and conducted a dyeing workshop. While the members have generally shown a remarkable degree of improvement in their knitting and weaving skills, some still show signs of inadequacy. Vigilant adherence to "the basics" needs to be stressed to some members in order to ensure excellent quality goods for export by all members.