With recycled waste materials and discarded coffee capsules, aid workers in Negros Oriental are using art to pay tribute to women facing the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Negrense Volunteers for Change, or NVC Foundation, released a statuette called “Inday in the Time of COVID-19: UNDAUNTED” as part of its “Inday Series.”“The Inday that we released is actually representative of every woman or every person who faces the crisis with confidence. This is a woman who faces life with faith, with hope and will not be daunted by any crisis. She’s a person of courage.
“Part of the livelihood project of NVC Foundation is to train artisans to produce products which we also help market for them. And, aside from the costs, everything else goes back to NVC Foundation for its programs,” Kilayko said. The foundation has fed marginalized families with decreased or no income due to the work stoppage through 468,441 Mingo Meals and 4,643 meal bags through its Feeding Force Project.
With the help of volunteers, it also provides personal protective equipment to COVID-19 frontliners in the province. It has also produced and distributed 8,467 face shields, 17,040 lab gowns and 4,643 face masks. NVC ended its PPE program on May 31, after having completed a substantial distribution of reusable PPEs.