The project “Maximizing the Gains
and Minimizing the Social cost of Overseas Migration in the
Philippines” was initiated by Filipino Women's Council (FWC),
CISP-Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli and
Atikha-Overseas Workers and Communities Initiatives Inc., to
build the capacity of migrant Filipinos in Italy and their
families in the Philippines to address both their economic and
family issues brought about my migration.
Their aim was to
strengthen migrant organizations and socio-economic integration
of Filipino workers in Italy while, at the same time, enhancing
their contributions to development projects in their home
country.
Furthermore, the project aims to build the capacity of
the local government, schools and other stakeholders in
providing social and economic services for migrants and families
left behind. The project was made possible through the support
of the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (EC-UN
JMDI).
Over the course of eighteen
months, in order to respond to the needs of Filipino migrants in
Italy and their families in their mother country, FWC and CISP
implemented innovative practices of raising awareness and
training of community leaders on financial literacy. At the same
time, the Filipino NGO Atikha has coordinated new or upscale
activities on addressing migration issues and potential in the
cities of Batangas and Laguna and in the provinces of Cavite,
Tarlac and Pampanga in the Luzon Island.
The project, “Maximizing the
Gains and Minimizing the Social cost of Overseas Migration in
the Philippines” demonstrated that the nexus between migration
and development could be achieved thorough the empowerment of
migrants through information and training.
The collaboration
between CISP, FWC and Atikha has aimed at a synergy between
non-profit organizations and institutions towards advocacy for
change in policies involving migration, the raising of awareness
of the Italian and Philippine government and civil society on
issues of migrants and contribution of migration to development,
and implement innovative interventions in the Philippines and in
Italy. In so doing, the project has achieved several Best
Practices. |