ILOILO City – Inside the quiet compound of the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (DSWD-RRCY) in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, laughter and energy filled the air once again. But this time, it wasn’t the sound of play — it was the sound of young people rediscovering purpose.
For two days, on September 26 and October 1, 2025, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Guimaras brought lessons not from a textbook, but from life itself. Through a training on entrepreneurship and simple bookkeeping, the agency sought to give children in conflict with the law (CICL) a new way to rebuild their futures — one small business idea at a time.
“The training aimed to equip young individuals with practical and marketable skills to support their reintegration into society,” the DTI–Guimaras said.
The sessions were designed to do more than teach arithmetic and ledgers. The young participants learned how to start a small business, manage income and expenses, and appreciate the value of financial discipline — skills that could one day spell the difference between relapse and redemption.
As the DTI team guided them through simple bookkeeping exercises and role-playing as entrepreneurs, the once-quiet classroom transformed into a hub of curiosity. Ideas began to bloom — from small food stalls to handmade crafts — each one representing not just potential income, but a vision of dignity restored.
The initiative, DTI emphasized, forms part of its continuing commitment “to empower marginalized sectors and promote sustainable livelihood development.”
By the end of the training, the youth participants expressed gratitude and excitement — emotions that echoed far beyond the walls of the rehabilitation center. To them, the training wasn’t just about skills; it was about second chances.
And for DTI–Guimaras, it was about proving that rehabilitation can be real when the community believes in it — when society extends its hand not to judge, but to lift.
As one staff member reflected, these young men, once defined by their mistakes, now hold something far more powerful: a dream and a direction.
DTI–Guimaras has vowed to continue nurturing these small sparks of hope through programs that integrate livelihood, mentorship, and human connection. In a world quick to condemn, this quiet initiative in Guimaras stands as a reminder that every youth deserves a chance — not just to change, but to thrive./PN
