Presentation of the school farm project

THE EDUCATIONAL SUSTAINABLE (NATURAL) FARMING AND PROFIT CENTER PROJECT consists to create an agricultural boarding school in natural farming for young disadvantaged adults. They will receive practical and theoretical courses in fruits, vegetables, forage and animals farming management, processing and marketing during one year. This particular school will be integrated in the national educational system of the Philippines (TESDA).

Another aspect of the project is it will be self-financed three years after the beginning of the production.

Focus on the main aspects of the project:

- Social aspect :

The beneficiaries are disadvantaged teenagers, young adults from Virlanie foundation Inc. and from the City of Sagay, and even young farmers in difficulties recommended by NISARD (Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development Foundation, Inc.). The educational natural farming project may also offer an appropriate structure to accompany the teenagers to consolidate their self-confidence as well as developing their autonomy and initiatives aiming to their social and professional integration.

This social goal could be summarized in one central idea: Make the youth autonomous and responsible citizens and give them sufficient skills to have a job to earn decently their life. This project, as an integrated educational program, will help ensure that no children or youth will be in streets of city making begging and mendicancy as a way of living.

Through education young adults will get a formation. The target of the school is first of all to give them access to the labor world. The final objective is to form young people in farm manager and not in farm worker.

- Educational aspect :

The students will learn how to make a feasibility study, and how to produce, how to process and how to sell numerous of products. That is the basic trilogy. All the products, animal and vegetal, will be labeled “organic products” because of sustainable (natural) farming.

With other words, the orientation of the educational project is the presentation and practical realization of numerous quality examples of production among which the students can choose one or many to start their own unit production.

At the end of the school year the best students will receive a diploma nationwide recognized. Our goal is also to help them to create their own “profit center”. For that we need the cooperation of agricultural administrations and private owners of large farms.

- Environmental aspect:

The fundamentals of sustainable natural farming are: proper crop rotation, legume usage, companion planting, insect habitat, microbial management, cover cropping, green fertilizers, minimal tillage, mulching, animal integration and composting. Moreover, of course, no chemicals!

This modern technique based on the use of microorganisms is particularly adapted to the rehabilitation of lands spoiled by chemicals, former monoculture lands or new upland area with lower fertility. It is also well adapted to the climatic and economic reality of tropical areas. In this project, the sustainable farming is more a way to succeed the global project and respect environment than a philosophy. It is the common denominator of all the vegetal or animal productions. It is also the way to maximize the land (increasing of fertility, intercropping…), to increase biodiversity and finally enjoy farming.

Daniel Collot – Project manager of the school farm

Presentation of Sagay

"Founded in 1860 by Teniente Francisco Rodriguez and Basilio Cordova in the mouth of the river known today as Bulanon River, this place was called Arguelles. Later, by the order of the Spanish Governor, the town proper was transferred to the Old Sagay site known as Pueblo de Magallanes.

In 1906, during the administration of the second President Quintin Katalbas, the name of the town was officially changed to Sagay. The name was taken from the semi-spherical shell called “sigay.”

After World War II, the seat of government was transferred to the present site, Dalusan, because of its accessibility to land transportation.

In 1995, the Hon. Congressman of the 2nd District Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. authored House Bill No. 6543- An Act Converting the Municipality of Sagay in the Province of Negros Occidental into a component City to be known as the City of Sagay. In June 11, 1996, His Excellency Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act 8192, which gave birth to the City of Sagay..."

Continue: http://www.sagay-city.com.ph/about.htm

Presentation of Virlanie

Virlanie is one of the largest, private, non-sectarian child caring institutions in Metro Manila. The Foundation includes 12 residential homes where it welcomes street children, as well as outreach and support programs for the children and families in Manila's poorest neighborhoods. 


These programs aim to reintegrate the children into community life and to help them to become self-reliant, self-confident and productive. In the long term, Virlanie's vision is to empower these street children with hope for a brighter future.

Since its establishment in 1992, VFI has transformed the lives of thousands of children who have been victims of various forms of abuse and exploitation in the street, in jail, from prostitution and syndicates and even from their own families and relatives. With its innovative approach of community reintegration and mainstreaming, as embodied in the family structure of all the homes and its family reunification and outreach programs, VFI achieves its vision of empowered children with hope for a brighter future.

The foundation is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is duly licensed and recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is also a member of the Philippine National Council Against Child Prostitution and of the Working Party On Children’s Rights working with the Department of Justice.