(In photo from left to right: MASHAV alumna Nelsie Uy, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, and President of Caritas Philippines Most Rev. Jose Colin Bagaforo)
The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, through MASHAV, has awarded a financial development grant to Nelsie Uy for her chosen project, the Self-Help Group (SHeG) Community Enterprise in the Diocese of Libmanan and the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan.
Uy is a MASHAV alumna and former head of Caritas Philippines Academy who participated in the program on Combating Gender-based Violence: Effective Interventions and the Survivor-Centered Approach in August 2022 at The Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC) in Haifa, Israel. Her project is patterned after the Self-Help Group (SHEG) approach of Caritas Philippines.
Uy’s strategic focus areas include enhancing the techniques for producing cranberry wine and juice in Libmanan, Camarines Sur, creating calamansi-ginger-lemongrass concentrate, and supporting the handicraft weaving of Mangyan indigenous women in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro. This project not only aims to boost economic empowerment among the women involved but also to preserve and promote local traditions and knowledge.
Commending Uy, Ambassador Ilan Fluss said, “I admire her commitment and support to improving the lives of rural women by opening job opportunities and income generation initiatives for the women in marginalized communities.”
“Through this project, we are contributing to poverty alleviation and the sustainable development goals,” he added.
The micro-financial grant from MASHAV aims to support ongoing development projects selected by MASHAV alumni. It complements MASHAV’s capacity-building efforts and supports grassroots development initiatives.
The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines through MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, provides professional training opportunities to Filipino experts across various sectors including gender empowerment, education, agriculture, water, innovation, entrepreneurship and disaster management.
To date, over 3,000 Filipino professionals, including Uy, have benefited from workshops and courses in Israel, aimed at promoting knowledge-sharing, best practices exchanges and technological advancements for sustainable development.
“Israel embodies resilience, opportunity, and innovation, inspiring not only our nation but the entire world. Israel will continue to innovate and invent, making the world a better place for everyone, even while fighting for its survival,” Fluss reiterated.
The financial grant amounting PHP580,000 was formally awarded to Uy on July 8, 2024 at the Caritas Philippines Office, Intramuros.
