Greeting cards from discarded boxes
Persons
with disabilities (PWDs) in Iloilo turn old cardboard boxes into useful
greeting cards and envelopes and they export these to Japan, proof that the
sector is self-reliant and successful if given the chance.
“We
call this the Case by Case project,” said Annabelle Dumdum, public relations
officer of the Association of Disabled Persons of Iloilo, Inc. (ADPI).
Greeting cards and envelopes made
from recycled cardboard boxes
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“This
project is interesting. It looks ugly when you haven’t started yet, but the product
is beautiful,” she added.
They
cut the boxes and then soak them in a water-filled basin for 30 minutes. Then,
they gradually detach the cardboard layers to come up with thinner sheets.
There
are two kinds of cardboards, the corrugated and the plain. The former is used
for the envelopes while the latter is used for the cards.
When
the thin sheets are ready, they iron each one until they are smooth and fine.
When
the cards are ready, they apply the designs.
“These
products are exported to Japan. We feel so lucky because this project has gone
international,” Dumdum enthused.
Annabelle Dumdum,
public
relations officer of ADPI
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WALLETS
Dumdum
is also excited about a new recycling project that was introduced to the
association.
“We
were recently trained how to make wallets out of tetra pack foils,” Dumdum
said.
The
training was facilitated by Mary Gail Buñol, a candidate for Miss Education
2013 of West Visayas State University last December 12. The candidates were
asked to initiate an advocacy. Being a Special Education student, she chose the
tetra pack recycling training as her project.
“It’s
a very easy project. Luckily, the beneficiaries already have a background in
sewing. We were taught how to make wallets. We were like high school students
again, comparing who had the best stitching,” Dumdum said.
“We
can see ourselves doing this as a livelihood project in addition to Case by
Case. We are also excited about doing bags soon,” she added.
The
plan is just in time for the revival of their women PWDs group who will handle
the project next year.
“We already have a sewing machine waiting,” she concluded.
(Marie Katherine Villalon, Email: katvillalon@gmail.com)
Tetra packs turned wallets
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