Sikap Buhay

Sikap buhay, or SIKHAY for short, means striving for a better life or self-empowerment. It was set up on March 2, 1996 as DAWN’s livelihood program. Despite its limited resources, SIKHAY was able to successfully surpass the difficulties of its early years.  Much may be attributed to the assistance of Cordaid and the Grant Assistance Grassroots Project (GAGP) of the Embassy of Japan through which SIKHAY sewing equipment and machines were upgraded and the tie-dye and handweaving machines were acquired for its operation.  The program’s three-pronged objective of providing livelihood to its beneficiaries serves as therapy for women, training ground for entrepreneurial development and management, and a vehicle for the alleviation of the sad plight of returning migrant women. 

Like any endeavor, SIKHAY had its humble beginnings.  It started its operation with two units of borrowed ordinary sewing machines. Edging and buttonholing activities were contracted out.  The products, which included ladies and men’s shirts, vests, pants, slippers, and potholders, were produced from fabrics purchased locally. For sometime, production ran very smoothly.  However, when the product demand increased, sourcing of handwoven and other fabric requirements became difficult in terms of availability of desired designs and price.  It was mainly for this reason that DAWN sought the assistance of PTRI.