Hope and Empowerment to Abused Women and Children

On November 15, 2025, the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Central, under the leadership of President Edgard Reyes, carried out its significant project this Rotary Year at the Home for Women and Children in Calauan, Laguna.

The initiative, entitled “Kalinga at Kabuhayan para sa Kababaihan at Kabataan,” meant more than just a program for this shelter for survivors of abuse; it was a lifeline of hope, dignity, and empowerment.

Confronting Painful Realities

Rtn. Olivia Fabale, who has previously been helping this shelter even before she joined Rotary, conducted the community needs assessment and reported that the shelter’s 31 residents — consisting of women and children, aged 12 to 29, carried stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma.

A Holistic Response

Recognizing the magnitude of the need, the club applied for a District Grant to deliver sustainable support. The project addressed all seven Areas of Focus, providing:

- Livelihood training, 2 new baking ovens, ingredients and equipment through baking workshops

- Hygiene kits and baby essentials

- Solar lights for sustainable energy

- Infrared thermometers for disease prevention and treatment

- Toys, clothes, and wellness activities for children

- Mental health talks to restore confidence and self-worth

- School supplies for future generations

A Day of Learning and Healing

On the slated date of the service project, the club members and spouses arrived early in the shelter, setting up the items and baking equipment with efficiency and excitement.

The morning began with the Baking Livelihood Training, led by Ms. Editha Domingo, a TESDA-accredited assessor and certified trainer in Bread and Pastry Production NCII. She taught participants how to bake cookies, chocolate crinkles, and banana bread — skills that can generate income and help women sustain themselves while continuing their education.

Two new baking ovens, donated through the generosity of Lt. Gov. for Programs and Grants PP Pilar Lee, were utilized all morning as trays and trays of the finished products baked efficiently to perfection. The women of the shelter diligently churned and kneaded upon the encouraging words of the trainer and each smiled beautifully as deliciously-looking baked goodies came out of the new baking ovens. The training area smelled wonderfully, providing a happy atmosphere of sweetness, accomplishment, and learning.

Service Above Self in Action

In the meantime, Service Project Director Gemma Harper, together with the other dedicated members and spouses, worked tirelessly to prepare all the materials and donations in convenient boxes to ensure that every beneficiary-recipient would feel cared for and supported. After a hearty lunch, the boxes filled with hygiene supplies, school supplies for the students, baby clothes, toys, and baby essentials were distributed to each beneficiary.

The solar lamps and thermometers were turned over to the administrative staff and caretaker for use in the shelter by the women and children residents. The beneficiaries showed appreciation and gratefulness as they received their boxload of different items.

Past President Meg Marzan then delivered an interactive and powerful mental health talk, entitled “Ako ay Sapat, Ako ay Mahalaga, I am Golden.” Her words reminded the beneficiaries that they are not defined by their past, but by their resilience and worth. These victims of abuse, including the heartbreaking case of a 12-year-old girl who was raped by her own father, carry their trauma every single day. As the women recited each word of the title with fervent intensity and purpose, at least five of them burst into tears, realizing that their value as individuals is considered so much greater than the trauma they experienced.

Empower Women, Unite for Good

This project was not just about giving — it was about restoring dignity, creating opportunities, and planting seeds of hope. The Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Central showed that service above self means standing with the most vulnerable, empowering them to rise, and ensuring that no woman or child is left behind.

The “Kalinga at Kabuhayan para sa Kababaihan at Kabataan” project is a reminder that when we empower women, protect children, and unite for good, we build a future where healing, strength, and hope can prevail.

Submitted by: Rtn. Meg Marzan, Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Central, Rotary International District 3800