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>View discussions about this entry Country: Philippines
Organization: Development Action for Women Network (DAWN)
Sector Focus: Other
Year the initative began (yyyy) 1996
Project URL: http://www.dawnphil.org
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? We empower women victims of trafficking by providing them holistic services that include counseling, therapeutic activities, skills training, alternative livelihood opportunites, and employment, so that they can reintegrate back into society.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? Many Filipino women who go to Japan to work as "overseas performing artists" or entertainers end up being victims of trafficking. DAWN provides a holistic approach/intervention to service and provide for the needs of returning distressed Filipino women migrants from Japan, as well as their Japanese Filipino children. Our work is to generate strong public support for the promotion of issues, rights and concerns of Filipino migrants and their families, as well as provide possible alternatives to their situation. We empower women by providing them with the following programs and services: counselling, legal and paralegal assistance, health and education assistance, advocacy and research, publication, workshops, skills training and employment.
Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? The programs that we run are simple. They are open for sharing to all. Infact, many organizations, government agencies and international organizations from the Philippines and abroad come to see how we work, especially our livelihood program.
How do you plan to grow your innovation? Eventually, the program we run for trafficked Filipino women in Japan can be expanded to include services for Filipino women trafficked in other countries.
Do you have any existing partnerships, and if so, how do you create them? DAWN has existing partnerships with several Japanese NPOs. It also has a volunteer group in Japan called DAWN-Japan, that assists DAWN in its work in Japan.
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. DAWN empoweres women through its programs and services -- emotionally, intellectually, morally, financially. Moreso, the women themselves have become advocates.
How many people have you served or plan to serve? To date, DAWN has served 338 women victims of trafficking, plus 438 of their children. This figures do not include those who were provided counseling services by telephone or e-mail.
Please list any other measures of the impact of your innovation? More than a hundred of its clients have availed of skills training provided by the organization. Some have found employment as a result, others have put up their own small businesses.
Exactly who are the beneficiaries of your innovation? The main beneficiaries of DAWN's work and programs are returned Filipino women who were trafficked in Japan.
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? The programs of the organization have been running for ten (10) years. We have formed networks and linkages with government and non-government organizations, both local and international, that have helped us sustain our programs. Individual projects, like researches and publications have been funded by agencies/partners who believe in our work. Our livelihood program for women (sewing, hand-weaving, tie- dye, knitting) is earning a modest amount that helps sustain the program. Our livelihood programs provide the women not only their sources of income but also serves as a therapy for them. Volunteers from both the Philippines and Japan have contributed their time and skills to many of our programs.
If known, provide information on your finances and organization: Number of staff: 6
What is the potential demand for your innovation? This field has not been completed. (83 words or less)
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? This field has not been completed. (83 words or less)
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. Many Filipino women who go to Japan to work as "overseas performing artists" or entertainers end up being victims of trafficking. DAWN provides a holistic approach/intervention to service and provide for the needs of returning distressed Filipino women migrants from Japan, as well as their Japanese Filipino children. Our work is to generate strong public support for the promotion of issues, rights and concerns of Filipino migrants and their families, as well as provide possible alternatives to their situation. We empower women by providing them with the following programs and services: counselling, legal and paralegal assistance, health and education assistance, advocacy and research, publication, workshops, skills training and employment.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material: Ms. Nuqui has been involved with helping Filipino women victims of trafficking in Japan for the past 19 years. Prior to this, she was involved in organizing labor unions.
At present, Ms. Nuqui is also President of the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch, a network of Philippine migrant NGOs. She is also a member of Vital Voices' global advisory council, and also serves Board Member of Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility in Asia (CARAM Asia). Contact Information:
Carmelita G. Nuqui
Executive Director Development Action for Women Network (DAWN) (NGO) Discussions about this entry |
Holistic Approach to Assist Filipino Women migrants in Japan and their Japanese-Filipino Children
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Dear Carmelita,
Your work involving rescue operations and statutory rehabilitation seems like it has substantial social impact. We would be interested in learning more about the tangible operations, such as how are the rescue operations conducted? What methods are involved in rehabilitation? Thanks for providing more information.
Best wishes,
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The Changemakers Team
Ashoka's Changemakers
Hello Carmelita,
I'm interested in learning more about the work that you are doing. It would be great if you could include more information about your project in the entry form. I hope to read an update soon! Thanks.
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemakers
Dear Carmelita Nuqui,
I just finished reading your entry and it sounds like you are doing great work. I was wondering if you could expand in three quick areas.
1) You said in your entry that the livelihood component of your program is often used as a model by other NGOs because of its success. As a program person, I know the impact that viable livelihood opportunities can have on all aspects of a women's life- including her health, social status, overall empowerment and of course her economic sustainability. Sadly, I have also seen many of these projects fail- with livelihood program components often teaching women skills that have little or no market value. I am interested therefore in hearing more about your program- what steps you have taken to implemented this component so successfully.
2) You said in your entry that the project also assisted children of trafficking survivors- could you explain more fully what services they receive?
3) You mentioned that in Japan you have established a volunteer network called DAWN-Japan. I imagine they do great work and are an excellent resource. Can you explain a bit more what they do and how they contribute to the overall impact of the project?
Laura Cardinal
Public Health and Human Trafficking Specialist