Associazione Pilipinas OFSPES (Overseas Filipinos’ Society for the Promotion of Economic Security Past Programs, Current Programs And an Analysis of Its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

Background and History 2005 : Associazione PILIPINAS and OFSPES (Overseas Filipinos’ Society for the Promotion of Economic Security) merged Vision: the development of the potentials of overseas Filipinos and the enhancement of their overall contribution to the Philippines

2005 : Associazione PILIPINAS and

OFSPES (Overseas Filipinos’ Society for the Promotion of Economic Security) merged

Vision: the development of the potentials of overseas Filipinos and the enhancement of their overall contribution to the Philippines

Mission and Goal to empower overseas Filipinos to increase their productive incomes, savings and investments. This will subsequently enhance their remittances to their families and their investments and donations to their communities, for the progress and development of Philippine society.

to empower overseas Filipinos to increase their productive incomes, savings and investments. This will subsequently enhance their remittances to their families and their investments and donations to their communities, for the progress and development of Philippine society.

Strategy Capacity building of individual and groups of OFs in Italy, including training and education on economic and financial matters; Information dissemination to the overseas Filipino community in Italy on various subjects related to their economic empowerment; Networking with experts, associations, and other organizations that can assist the OFs in their socio, cultural, political and economic needs; Research and development on the socio-cultural and economic situation of OFs in Italy.

Capacity building of individual and groups of OFs in Italy, including training and education on economic and financial matters;

Information dissemination to the overseas Filipino community in Italy on various subjects related to their economic empowerment;

Networking with experts, associations, and other organizations that can assist the OFs in their socio, cultural, political and economic needs;

Research and development on the socio-cultural and economic situation of OFs in Italy.

SWOT Analysis - Strengths: A group of committed individuals with particular skills and expertise to contribute to realizing OFSPES’ goals and objectives; A wide range of networks and linkages in the Philippines, in Italy and elsewhere; Capacity to bring together various stakeholders particularly, OF organizations, government institutions, private sector, etc to discuss issues and concerns of OFs; Legal entity to carry out programs and activities; Capacity to undertake a range of programs and activities; Relatively high credibility among Filipino groups/communities the association has both Italian and Philippine identity to support each one’s programs and activities.

A group of committed individuals with particular skills and expertise to contribute to realizing OFSPES’ goals and objectives;

A wide range of networks and linkages in the Philippines, in Italy and elsewhere;

Capacity to bring together various stakeholders particularly, OF organizations, government institutions, private sector, etc to discuss issues and concerns of OFs;

Legal entity to carry out programs and activities;

Capacity to undertake a range of programs and activities;

Relatively high credibility among Filipino groups/communities

the association has both Italian and Philippine identity to support each one’s programs and activities.

Weaknesses Limited financial resources to carry out activities; No full time staff to support the day-to-day activities and promote the presence of the Society; Limited membership base; Limited time and resources to carry out other program ideas; Sometimes viewed as being close to the Phil Embassy/Labor Office/OWWA; Sometimes viewed as group of professionals, not OFWs although there is a member coming from OFW.

Limited financial resources to carry out activities;

No full time staff to support the day-to-day activities and promote the presence of the Society;

Limited membership base;

Limited time and resources to carry out other program ideas;

Sometimes viewed as being close to the Phil Embassy/Labor Office/OWWA;

Sometimes viewed as group of professionals, not OFWs although there is a member coming from OFW.

Opportunities Few organizations focusing on socio-cultural and particularly economic concerns of OFs; Limited number of groups bringing together diverse multistakeholders on OFW concerns; Capacity to offer wide range of products and services to OFs; Can widen membership base; Can expand resource base.

Few organizations focusing on socio-cultural and particularly economic concerns of OFs;

Limited number of groups bringing together diverse multistakeholders on OFW concerns;

Capacity to offer wide range of products and services to OFs;

Can widen membership base;

Can expand resource base.

Threats Without adequate financial and human resources, the Association may not be able to fulfill all its objectives; How to mobilize membership potential to carry out Association’s objectives given time and other constraints; Lack of time and capacity to follow up on programs/initiatives; “ Competitive” spirit among groups that constrain more collaboration.

Without adequate financial and human resources, the Association may not be able to fulfill all its objectives;

How to mobilize membership potential to carry out Association’s objectives given time and other constraints;

Lack of time and capacity to follow up on programs/initiatives;

“ Competitive” spirit among groups that constrain more collaboration.

Programs and Activities: 2005-2006 Joint Study of Pilipinas OFSPES with the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy, Rome on the Situation of the Filipino Youth in Rome. Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar for new Filipino arrivals in Rome. Conference on “The Filipino Family and Youth in Italy : Seeking Common Solutions to Challenges for Collective Action” held 3 December 2006 as joint effort of POLO, Pilipinas OFSPES and other Filipino communities and organizations in Rome and The website was launched in May 2006. ( www.pilipinas-ofspes.org ) Fund-raising: Piano concert with young Filipino pianist with two young female singers and other performers. Christmas fund-raising: 2005 – sale of Christmas baskets containing Philippine food products like specialty rice, coffee, muscovado sugar, etc. 2006 sale of Philippine-made ‘belens’

Joint Study of Pilipinas OFSPES with the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy, Rome on the Situation of the Filipino Youth in Rome.

Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar for new Filipino arrivals in Rome.

Conference on “The Filipino Family and Youth in Italy : Seeking Common Solutions to Challenges for Collective Action” held

3 December 2006 as joint effort of POLO, Pilipinas OFSPES and other Filipino communities and organizations in Rome and

The website was launched in May 2006. ( www.pilipinas-ofspes.org )

Fund-raising:

Piano concert with young Filipino pianist with two young female singers and other performers.

Christmas fund-raising: 2005 – sale of Christmas baskets containing Philippine food products like specialty rice, coffee, muscovado sugar, etc.

2006 sale of Philippine-made ‘belens’

Programs and Activities for 2007-2008: With Microsoft, OWWA, Phil Embassy, the Association is running a free computer course for OFWs since April 2007 (150 graduates as of October 2007). Round Table Discussion on Migration and Development July 22, 2007. A training for facilitators who will conduct regular Post-Arrival Orientation Seminars to be held on Nov 4, 2007. Follow-up on the Dec 3, 2006 Conference with the communities (with POLO/OWWA) this Dec 2007. Collaboration with the Ateneo School of Government for a Leadership and Entrepreneurship Training for Youth in Rome in mid-2008. Nurses’ prog with POLO to assist nurses working as domestics etc to become employable as nurses in Italy.

With Microsoft, OWWA, Phil Embassy, the Association is running a free computer course for OFWs since April 2007 (150 graduates as of October 2007).

Round Table Discussion on Migration and Development July 22, 2007.

A training for facilitators who will conduct regular Post-Arrival Orientation Seminars to be held on Nov 4, 2007.

Follow-up on the Dec 3, 2006 Conference with the communities (with POLO/OWWA) this Dec 2007.

Collaboration with the Ateneo School of Government for a Leadership and Entrepreneurship Training for Youth in Rome in mid-2008.

Nurses’ prog with POLO to assist nurses working as domestics etc to become employable as nurses in Italy.

Mapping of Filipino Groups/Orgns in Italy Typology of groups/organizations: social clubs and associations: either religious or regional/provincial/linguistic (majority of groups in Italy) - of church/religious groups: majority are part of the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy (46) cultural groups: theater, dance - NGOs/migrant support groups/advocacy groups: CFMW, Migrante, FWC, Pil OFSPES

Typology of groups/organizations:

social clubs and associations: either religious or regional/provincial/linguistic (majority of groups in Italy)

- of church/religious groups: majority are part of the Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy (46)

cultural groups: theater, dance

- NGOs/migrant support groups/advocacy groups: CFMW, Migrante, FWC, Pil OFSPES