ICOPED Launches Enterprise Development Training Program for the Youth of Calamba City

Calamba, Laguna – The Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED) in partnership with the City of Calamba Cooperative and Livelihood Development Department (CCLDD) formally launched the Enterprise Development Training Program for the Youth last May 2, 2017 at the CLDD Training Center II, Mercado de Calamba, Poblacion, Calamba City. The training program aims to raise awareness and develop the knowledge and entrepreneurial competencies of the youth who are interested into becoming young entrepreneurs themselves and future cooperative members or leaders. 

The program is divided into two phases. Phase 1 is a 10-day training consisting of a series of lecture-workshops, practicum, and cross visits to inculcate the concepts and practices in enterprise development, while Phase 2 is monitoring and evaluation of the implementation process of the chosen enterprises by the young participants. Start-up funds will be provided by the CCLDD for the participants to implement their chosen enterprises, with the continued assistance of ICOPED for the next 6 months.

A total of 41 student-participants from Grades 6 to 11 are attending the training program. These are students from Looc National High School, Calamba Bayside National High School, Punta National High School, E. Barretto Sr. National High School, Lecheria National High School, Tanauan Institute, Saint Benilde, Kapayapaan National High School, Palo-Alto National High School, Camp Vicente Lim National High School, and Gulod National High School.

The training began with the sharing of knowledge and experiences of invited young entrepreneurs:  1).  Mr. Emmanuel L. Bernardo, the proprietor of Masikhay MicroPlants Nursery, and 2) Ms. Maris M. Manalili, owner of Gawa Ko To Handicrafts.  The successful young entrepreneurs who served as resource persons shared how they started with their business, the struggles they encountered and how they were able to overcome them. They also inspired and guided the young participants in deciding the enterprise they want to pursue.

​In the second day of the training, lectures cum workshops were conducted for the students to understand the concepts of entrepreneurship, business models, and generating business ideas. Ms. Alicia R. Quicoy, a University Researcher, and Ms. JP Roma D. Domingo, a University Extensions Specialist of ICOPED served as the resource persons for the session. By the end of the second-day session, the students were able to generate their own business ideas and identify the enterprise they wanted to pursue. The remaining 8 days of Phase 1 will be continuously devoted to more learning experiences for the students to realize the goal of the program. JRDDomingo