Aringay, La Union – Dreams are free, but the dreamer must persevere to turn these into reality.

This is the guiding principle of 20 year-old Loudemer Doloroso from Brgy. San Benito Sur, an out-of-school youth (OSY), and a program-participant of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Loudemer stopped schooling since his fifth grade, but rather than doing nothing, he became determined to send his siblings to school. His dream is for them to finish their education, so he is doing his best to earn enough to send them to school at least through vending and working at a slaughter house.

He said, “Hindi ko na po itutuloy ang aking pag-aaral dahil tututukan ko na lang po ang pag-aaral ng aking mga nakababatang kapatid na nasa first year college at Grade 8 (I do not plan to continue my studies anymore since I am prioritizing my younger brothers’ education, one will be in first year college and another in Grade 8).”

Loudemer’s parents do not have stable jobs, hence, as the eldest, he helped in the responsibility of sending his siblings to school.

He added that he also takes care of his three young nieces since they were left by their mother and father after a dispute.

The turning point

Despite his young age, Loudemer has already faced great challenges and responsibilities.  Thus, he was grateful when DSWD and the local government unit (LGU) chose him as one of the 10 OSYs who were awarded with a food cart for vending various products through the SLP.

The DSWD provided the food cart worth P5,210 while the LGU gave the stove and supplies him regularly with gas fuel for cooking.

SLP is a capacity-building program that helps participants generate their own sustainable sources of income. The program encourages OSYs to eventually finish school once they have enough money saved from their earnings.

SLP is also a multi-stakeholder livelihood component of the DSWD’s Convergence Strategy.

To date, 378,074 households continue to generate income through the employment and business opportunities under SLP.

Loudemer earns between P150 to P200 a day from selling fish balls, kikiam, chicken balls, and squid balls.

To augment his income, he also works in a slaughter house on market days (Wednesdays and Sundays)  receiving P100 a day.

“Mas magandang magtrabaho kaysa walang ginawaga sa bahay. Kahit na hindi permanente itong aking trabaho, alam kong makakatulong ako sa pangangailangan ng aking pamilya dito sa ibinigay na negosyo ng DSWD at ng munisipyo (It is better to work than to stay home doing nothing. Though I do not have a permanent job, I know I can earn and help my family with this livelihood project given to me by DSWD and the local government),” he stated.

Through the small amount he earns, Loudemer is able to buy his family’s daily needs like rice and groceries, and pay their electric and water bills.

‘Out’ of school, ‘in’ into leadership

To his fellow OSY food cart vendors group, Loudemer is a role model. He was chosen as the President of the Aringay OSY Sustainable Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K).

The group decided to open a bank account through the assistance of Project Development Officer Antonio Navarro.  To date, their savings amount to P5,200.

According to Navarro, the group is planning to use their savings to buy additional food carts for other OSYs in their barangay and even for the members who plan to continue their education.

For Loudemer, his guiding principle continues to be his inspiration to work harder for his loved ones and to be a man for others. ###