The Blind Gardeners Rotary Community Corps empowers the visually impaired community

Unity, perseverance, confidence, and resilience have been the strength of the Blind Gardeners Rotary Community Corps since it started in October of 2024. 

Since its birth, the group sponsored by the Rotary Club of Creative City Baguio (RCCCB) and under the guidance of their adviser Ruby Gunn has ventured to several projects and trainings empowering the visually impaired in Baguio City and Benguet. 

The group started to make a name through its organic urban gardening, a concept which started by Gunn during the pandemic. 

Together the members plant, tend, and harvest collaboratively their produce to the table. 

Skills of each member are also actively demonstrated and shared as they work on their livelihood projects like handicrafts such as foot rug using used clothes; jars, center table, & coin bank made of old magazine; basket; macrame, and more. 

With the support of RCCCB, RCC District 3790 through Chair Past President Virgil Garcia, and Jeraz Credit Coop through General Manager Gino Jimenez and company on September 24, 2025, the Corps was able to expand its livelihood programs. 

Gunn, also the Economic and Community Development Chair of the Rotary Club of Creative City Baguio and Jeraz Credit Cooperative General Manager Gino Jimenez have signed a memorandum of agreement ensuring a financial capacity building assistance to the group with Rotary Club of Creative City Baguio President Alah Sungduan witnessing the event.

Jimenez said this is the first time Jeraz which is only three years in the service to have a program providing cooperative development fund promoting socio-economic development and they have chosen the well-deserving group of Gunn.

“In terms of prayers na sana maging successful parati ang coop para marami pa kaming matulungan na kagaya niyo na may program na ganito na hindi lamang one time,” Jimenez said in his message to RCC-TBG.

Jeraz Chairman of the Board Antonio Paolo Jimenez who also signed in the MOA and joined in the check turnover also expressed his full support to the group. 

“May this CDF fund of Jeraz become seed of prosperity to our community and may touch everyone’s heart through your vision and mission,” he said.

Jeraz was able to know about RCC-TBG through Rotary District 3790 RCC Chair Virgil Garcia who is also a member of the coop’s BOD.

Garcia said the assistance provided is just a start of something new and they will continue to support each and every cooperative and community through the Blind Gardeners.

From urban gardening to the table, the group has ventured into chicken eggs production. This was followed by pickled egg processing. 

The Blind Gardener's RCC also continues to provide livelihood project through homemade atcharang labanos, garlic chili paste, and pickled radish products. 

Monthly, the members of the group gather together for a meeting sharing ideas for future projects. They also organize workshops to foster team collaboration. 

A Day with Seniors, a powerful way of showing appreciation and valuable time to the golden-ager is another essential project of the Corps in collaboration with RCCCB.

They also partner in providing workshop on urban gardening such as in Tuba Central School in Tuba, Benguet. 

The Blind Gardeners Rotary Community Corps is committed in making more sustainable and impactful programs and projects will empower the visually impaired community. 

Written by: Alah Soledad M. Sungduan