Atenean receives a ₱250k grant from TAF and USAID at the Leadership and Democracy Fellowship

Angela Maree Encomienda (4 AB Sociology) was among 10 young leaders awarded PhP 250,000 grant funding from The Asia Foundation (TAF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Encomienda and her project partner John Joseph Ilagan were selected from a cohort of 30 young leaders participating in the TAF and USAID program Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) fellowship last June 2022.

Encomienda and Ilagan received the grant for their project "UWAY (Umuunlad at Nagwawaging Kabuhayan ng mga Katutubong Agta, Dumagat, at Remontado)." The project aims to organize an indigenous youth-led cooperative that champions the traditional livelihood of pag-uuway or rattan harvesting and handcrafting, which has grown idle throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant was a welcome shot in the arm for the project, which is set to start its next phase: conducting capacity-building training to help them produce and market the rattan products. 

"We hope the training would increase their knowledge and confidence to preserve tradition and lead innovation," Encomienda says. She adds that they are currently accepting volunteers for carrying out capacity-building activities for UWAY. 

Over the past year, LEAD fellows also enjoyed tutelage under the Future Bridging Leaders Program of the Asian Institute of Management, the Executive Course on Governance and Democracy of the Ateneo School of Government, and the Servant Leadership for Democracy: Project Paragos of the Ayala Foundation.

Encomienda encourages other young people, especially those who come from minorities, to apply for the next cohort of the LEAD Fellowship.

"It's time for us to have leaders representing their own sectors' interests. This fellowship is a major opportunity to join a community of leaders and mentors, learn community and national development skills, and gain technical support for projects."