Eco Inilad Bag-Making as a Livelihood Program in Enhancing Skills, Social Empowerment, and Environmental Awareness of Mothers

Mothers play a crucial role in their families and communities, but often face challenges that hinder their ability to provide support and build independence. In response, community-based livelihood programs like the Eco Inilad Bag Making Program have emerged as meaningful pathways for mothers. This study examined the effectiveness of the Eco Inilad Bag Making Livelihood Program in enhancing the skills, social empowerment, and environmental awareness of participating mothers. It identified the mothers’ demographic profile regarding age, civil status, educational attainment, current livelihood, and economic status. The study employed a sequential explanatory mixed methods design based on Creswell’s framework, consisting of two phases: (1) a quantitative phase followed by (2) a qualitative phase that expanded upon the quantitative findings. Three experts validated the research instruments and pilot-tested them. The results revealed that the demographic profile regarding their age, civil status, education level, livelihood, and economic struggles emphasized the urgent need for targeted support and empowerment programs. In the quantitative phase, the study found that the Eco Inilad Bag Making Livelihood Program demonstrated high skill development, social empowerment, and environmental awareness. Qualitative insights confirmed the program’s positive impact on strengthening skill development, promoting socio-economic empowerment, and strengthening environmental sustainability. Overall, the program significantly enhanced the practical skills, social empowerment, and environmental awareness among mothers, demonstrating its wide-reaching and positive influence on their lives.