The program that provides various services to under privilege families in the form of Vocational Training Job-Hunting Enhancement Training, Job Readiness, Access To Company Employment, Generating & Starting Business Ideas and referral/Support for Business Start Up. These are all geared towards productivity of adult members as well as former CNSP who reached the employability age. Such services will prepare the individuals within the family unit to gain new skills that can be used either for wage and self-employment and eventually lead to sustainable livelihood of the organization’s priority families. This service is also open to other community members residing in the target communities of Bidlisiw.
Partnership with private sector is an important element of this program. They are influenced and motivated to exercise corporate social responsibility by providing opportunities for employment or share some of their resources to support the cause of the Foundation.
Stories of Hope
“Nicky”
“Through the help of my neighbor, Berly Ann, who is a Recovery Buddy, I was able to be a part of Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc. Berly Ann shared stories about Bidlisiw and the things they do. Hearing all those made me want to be a part too! And so, Berly Ann referred me to the organization. Before I became part of Bidlisiw, I could say that my life was terrible; my friends introduced me to drugs and alcohol, and I got too addicted that I started skipping classes. It got out of hand to a point where I did not attend classes for a month. During that time my teacher decided to visit me at home to try and persuade me to go back to school, but I refused.
Ever since I became part of Bidlisiw, I became an active person. I participated in the activities organized by the foundation. Currently, I am taking up skills training in Floor Planning through the support provided by the organization. Being part of Bidlisiw, I am most thankful for their guidance; they have taught me a lot of good lessons and they have disciplined me well. I am also inspired because they play a huge role in changing the direction of my life.
To all young people who may be in the same position as I was, do not waste your time doing bad things because it will cause you to have a bad life. If ever people from Bidlisiw will reach out to you, do not waste the opportunity because they will give you a good future. They will discipline you and they will teach you many good lessons in life.”
“Lyka”
“I once had a friend who was a member of the foundation, and she shared in our circle of friends what Bidlisiw was about. Honestly, I was very scared at first about the foundation, not because of any apparent reasons but because I was oblivious to what the organization was. There was a time when my friends and I ran for our lives when one of the Bidlisiw staff came to visit where we stayed. We thought it was the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) because earlier that night, we threw rocks at random houses. When the staff started to explain what Bidlisiw was, we started to feel calm and showed trust. The trust started to root deeper when the staff went to our homes individually to talk to our parents and ask permission. After that, all the different activities followed where we were able to participate. Before becoming part of the foundation, I did not have any direction with my life. I did not know or did not have any idea where I was going or what I would do. During that time, I would pointlessly wander everywhere. I would go and party wherever there were people. I had no vision or dreams, what was important to me was that I could eat 3 times a day.
When I became a member of the foundation, I was glad and thankful enough because not only did they provide educational assistance while I was studying, but they also provided mental health support pertaining to our problems and so. It was then I realized how hard life was. I am very thankful for the activities that were provided. Through them, I was able to realize the things which I did not know that I had done until now. If I did not become a member of Bidlisiw, I do not know where I would be today, and that is why I am very proud of the help the foundation has given. “
“Aush”
“My cousin, who is a PSG (Peer-Support Group) officer of Bidlisiw, referred me to the foundation. I became one of the youth who underwent the Video Editing training that was sponsored by VOICE. Before, hanging out with my friends was my everyday pattern, and it became more often as the days pass by. I am a former CICL and was in the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY). There, I planned to start a new beginning – A life that is far from temptation and a life that gives good contribution to my community. I started to think what I would have done when I would be reintegrated to my community.
When I was reintegrated back to the community, I was very overwhelmed to the point that I did not know what I would do – even my plans were out of my mind. In the first day of my reintegration, temptations slapped me in the face and I started drinking with my friends. It became worse day by day, and one day I remember the hardship I went through. I started realizing how terribly I had become by relapsing into my bad habits. On that same day, I decided to get away from it for good. Bidlisiw was introduced to me and became an instrument for me to leave my bad habits. Through the help of the foundation, I became independent. I am very thankful for the chance to gain new sets of skills, and a chance to divert my bad lifestyle to a good one.
I know young people have their own individual thoughts, and no matter how bad they may be, they stand for what they believe in. But I, Aush Cabije, have overcome the greatest enemy that came to my life – Escaping in my comfort zone, which is hanging out with my friends, instead of trying to face reality and realizing the good that is waiting ahead.”
“Diana”
“I was initially from Forge Inc., another humanitarian organization. I became part of Bidlisiw Foundation maybe through the partnership that both the organizations had where the staff from Bidlisiw sought children who needed help. Through that, the youth from Forge Foundation were referred to Bidlisiw Foundation. The staff from Bidlisiw invited us to join the various activities that were composed of youth. My life before was hard to define, I would say. I did not know how to handle myself. I had plenty of bad issues that made a bad influence on everyone surrounding me.
When I started to join the youth activities in Bidlisiw, I had a ton of learnings and knowledge gained. I learned how to manage myself and choose the right things over the bad ones. I could definitely say that I am different now rather than before. I am thankful to the founder of Bidlisiw Foundation because they supported the youth to overcome different challenges. I am also very thankful, especially to the staff, because they have guided us from the start until the end. They guided us wherever we were, and they taught the instructions that were to be followed. I encourage the youth that we must put God first because without God, we can not do anything and we are nothing. We should not allow to lose ourselves. We should have a positive mindset because hope is going to be found. Always choose to be happy and not do harm.”
“Kimbe”
“I became part of Bidlisiw Foundation Inc. because of my live-in partner. Whenever there was a meeting that involved the parents of my partner, they could not go. Instead, I am the one who attends the meetings and eventually I became part of the organization too. I could say that I have gone through extremes when I was still not part of Bidlisiw. I was a delinquent person, I go wherever my friends were where we get drunk and smoke packs of cigarettes. I also used to argue back to my parents and never listened to anything they said.
When I became part of Bidlisiw, everything changed. I stopped all my vices, I learned to respect others. I learned to step away from everything because of the guidance and advice that were given by the staff. They never stopped stepping in, not until I completely changed. They were always ready to support and teach me the right things. I am very thankful for the fact that I was able to be part of the organization. Because of the staff, I became a new person and I was given an opportunity which led me to have a happy life.
Thank you Sir Vhen, Sir Joward, Ate Jessa, Ate MJ, Maam Inday, Maam Lolits, and there is one more person but I do not know the name – to all of you, thank you. I hope there would be more people like that you could extend your help to, so that they would also be able to change. Continue with the things that you are doing Ma’ams and Sirs, God Bless you.
If there were anyone would ask me about Bidlisiw and what it is, I would tell them the whole truth. I would say that if they are into vices or if they hang out everywhere anytime, they would all lose those habit through the organization’s teaching. I would also tell them that the people in Bidlisiw are good people and they are ready to provide what is necessary for a person to change and change their current way of life.”
“Archi”
“I became part of Bidlisiw because of Ate Luyonor and Sir Vhen. Back then, I was a “Rugby Boy” and an active user of Marjiuana. Other than that, I was very hard-headed, I would not listen whenever both my mother and father reprimanded me. I used to hang out with my friends much too often which led me to stop going to school eventually. Ever since, I never followed whatever my parents told me to do and most of the time I was out of the house together with my friends, and because of that I got beaten by my father a lot of times.
I stopped my vices such as the use of Marijuana and Rugby ever since I got involved with Bidlisiw. I thank Bidlisiw and its staff because they are willing to accept people who have vices and change them. I am also very thankful to Kuya Edu, Sir Vhen, and Ate Luyonor because if they did not come to our house, I would never be part of Bidlisiw. The staff are always there too, thank you so much ates and kuyas. If there was anything I could say towards the people like me, change now or regret later.”
