CCES and JRS launch Liclihood Assistance Project to Zamboanga Siege IDPs
The Center for Community Extension Services (CCES), in partnership with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), awarded livelihood assistance to 155 IDPs of barangay Arena Blanco and Talon-Talon on March 24, 2014 and of barangay Mampang on April 10, 2014. The awarding took place in Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Mampang Elementary School respectively.
The LAP awarding ceremony was graced with the presence of Fr Bambang Sepayo SJ, Asia Pacific JRS Director who gave his inspiring message to the recipients of the project and Arena Blanco barangay chairman, Abdulhussin Mujib. The JRS has worked in conflict displacement situations in Mindanao since 2010 providing emergency and livelihoods to displaced communities in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte. While Zamboanga is not a project site of JRS, the AdZU is an enabling presence for JRS to directly respond to the conflict displacement.
The project was crafted with JRS as part of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Quick Response Team’s effort to assist in the early recovery and rehabilitation to the 2013 Zamboanga Siege victims.
The recipients received assistance in cash and in kind during the awarding. Livelihood support projects includes vintas for fishing, sewing machines, agar-agar farming, vegetable farming, hog raising, sari-sari store, pedicab, fish vending, small eatery, carpentry, food processing, and street vending.
Sustainability mechanisms and other social developments activities will also be part of the project.
