STRIVE Philippines is one of four project/country initiatives that seek to reduce the vulnerability of children and youth through economic strengthening. Learn more about the project in
	Afghanistan
	Liberia
	Mozambique

Implementing Partners: Action for Enterprise

Funding Period: July 2008 - December 2011

Amount: $1,829,069

Purpose: Demonstrate effective means of sustainably improving the economic circumstances of orphans and vulnerable children and the families and communities that care for them

• Increasing business and household incomes in coastal communities, emphasizing improvements to the seaweed sector
• Encourage seaweed suppliers and processing firms to invest in new production areas and techniques
• Expand and strengthen links between local small businesses and the larger seaweed market
• Disseminate information on best practices in the seaweed industry
• Identify innovative, sustainable solutions to obstacles to seaweed production

Workers demonstrate loom and hapao weaving. Photo: Lloyd Feinberg/USAID.

In the Philippines, STRIVE works to ensure the well-being of children in poor coastal communities, were seaweed farming is a major source of income. The project aims to achieve lasting improvements in the local production of seaweed, which will bolster the economy of the region and provide income for local workers. It does so by implementing activities that develop a value chain based on the production of seaweed and seaweed-based products.

The project also implements a value chain based on woven products. The project has implemented interventions with lead firms regarding their management procedures. It has also helped such firms provide training for weavers, and assisted them in purchasing and preparing raw materials.

The three types of weaving with which the project has been involved include:

• Hapao weaving, which involves the spiraling out of rattan core pieces connected together by strips of buri midribs (middle part of the leaves) or nito vines,
• Wire frame weaving with a range of natural fibers,
and
• Loom weaving of raffia fiber (also made from buri).

Lead firms do the final stages of quality control and processing woven products. With baskets, this includes trimming and burning off excess fibers, staining, and packaging. Raffia material is typically fashioned into place mats or women's handbags.