The Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation launched yesterday Project Joseph, its newest vehicle for change in poor communities. This is in addition to NVC’s earlier initiatives that allowed them to deliver more than 4,000 boats to fishermen who lost their boats to disaster, provide more than 3,000,000 Mingo meals, a nutritious instant porridge of rice, mongo and malunggay, and construct almost 200 classrooms, foundation president Millie Kilayko said. She said “Project Joseph hopes to provide a plow for every farmer, a sewing machine for every seamstress, kettles and stoves for every cook: a tool of trade for every hand willing to work, every mind set out to earn, and every soul with a dream.” It is inspired by the father of Jesus, the humble and quiet man in the Bible, using his hands, he practiced his trade with dedication and dignity, and provided for the temporal needs of Jesus, she said. Project Joseph, co-chaired by NVC members Noel Tolentino and Dr. Chris Sorongon, has identified an initial list of potential beneficiaries in communities it currently works with in Negros, Iloilo, Capiz, Leyte, Samar and Biliran. “It tugs your heart to see that even just P1,800 for a manicure set is all a person needs to start providing better meals for a family,” Sorongon said. The cost of dreams/needs as listed in NVC’s matrix of potential beneficiaries range from as low as P1,000 to 6-digit figures, Kilayko said. “NVC also intends to partner with Microfinance institutions to provide the potential beneficiaries who have long-term business plans with access, not only loans, but training on credit worthiness and simple business management skills to insure sustainability of their enterprises,” Tolentino said. A few hours after launching, 31 on the list of 299 Project Joseph beneficiaries already had sponsors, Kilayko said. . “We are upbeat. We have been around only for a little over four years, but in such a short time we have seen so much outpouring of love from the human heart: from little children who give up a few cents for a cause to bigger entities who give without question. People only need to find a way to express that love and generosity in their hearts,” she said. Among those who have already found sponsors is Alma Borenes, a breadwinner from Palo, Leyte who makes brooms and sells them daily. She was listed as needing P5,750 for additional tools and supplies so she could increase her sales by 150 percent, Kilayko said. Purita Catayong of Barangay Garawon, Hernani, Eastern Samar is married to a fisherman who is also a beneficiary of NVC’s Peter Project and received a fiberglass motorized fishing boat to replaced what he lost to Typhoon Yolanda. However, her husband’s income is not enough to sustain the needs of the couple’s seven children, the three eldest who have disabilities and are not expected to contribute to family income. Purita’s wish list for cooking utensils and a stove have been enlisted by Project Joseph and has already found a sponsor, Kilayko added. In Brgy.Mangorocoro, Ajuy, Iloilo, John Mark Rojo is a street vendor who earlier took out a loan as start-up fund for dry goods that he brings around on foot. He has hoped for a bicycle so he could cover a wider area and his requirement for a bicycle has already been answered, she said. Interested potential donors may view the list at NVC Foundation’s website www.nvcfoundation-ph.org where a section on Project Joseph has been posted, Kilayko said. The list is classified from lowest costing to the highest. Sponsorship sign-ups can be facilitated by sending an email to projectjoseph@nvcfoundation-ph.org indicating the code number of the person one wishes to sponsor either through PayPal, credit card or bank deposit, she added. Upon request, NVC can provide more information about the person-in-need such as family background and current source of income. This information is immediately available as this is already on file, as each potential beneficiary’s need has been validated by NVC’s team of Field Officers and volunteers. NVC will also provide the donor with photographs of the beneficiary receiving the donation, she said.* Source: http://visayandailystar.com/2015/March/20/topstory5.htm