Brenda Isederio, a determined college student balancing her studies and her role as a delivery partner with foodpanda logistics, has recently reached a new milestone in her journey. Now in her third year of college, Brenda supports her family while pursuing her education. Her mother works as a streetsweeper, and her father is a maintenance worker.
When Brenda received an invitation to join the Ka-pandaBIZ: Women on Wheels (WoW) program, it felt like the answer to her prayers. Brenda is one of six women from the Ka-panda delivery fleet who recently graduated from the Ka-pandaBIZ livelihood and training program. This initiative, launched during Women's Month, is designed to empower women by equipping them with the tools and skills necessary to start their own businesses.
"We help each other run the sari-sari store. As long as sales continue and the store operates smoothly, we have enough for daily expenses," Brenda shared. "We're incredibly thankful for the guidance we received on our business plan. While cash benefits are important, learning how to grow our business is invaluable."
The recent commencement program brought together beneficiaries from Metro Manila, including Taguig and Makati, while Ka-panda women from Mindoro, Leyte, Cagayan De Oro, and Davao joined remotely.
Ron Sanders, Rider Experience Lead at foodpanda logistics, expressed his pride in the graduates, stating, "We are very proud of the women who participated in the Ka-pandaBIZ: Women on Wheels program. Their dedication and hard work have been remarkable. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting and uplifting women in our Ka-panda community, providing them with opportunities to grow and succeed."
Sustainable Livelihoods for Ka-Panda Women
Each of the six women successfully completed the program and received a business capital of Php 100,000 to kickstart their small businesses. These women were carefully selected to undergo comprehensive training, which included financial literacy, personal leadership lessons, and a starter plan for running and growing their sari-sari stores. This approach aims to ensure the sustainability of the businesses for these Ka-pandas.
The training sessions were organized in partnership with HAPINOY, foodpanda logistics' official partner organization, dedicated to empowering microentrepreneurs.
Lheniefer Dumo, a Ka-panda from Davao with four years of experience, shared how much the program has helped her. "Since becoming a WoW beneficiary, I now have extra income from the store to supplement my earnings as a delivery partner."
"I learned that there is a technique for properly managing a store. Before, I had a store, but it failed. Now, with your help, I hope it will be successful because I know how to do the bookkeeping, identify our unique selling proposition, and what actions to take," Lheniefer added.
Similarly, Jiemelyn Cortez, an active member of the LGBTQIA+ rider group in her area, feels she can significantly apply what she learned from the program to her own sari-sari store. "We've learned what we didn't know about running a business."
Jiemelyn receives support from her partner in managing their small business. "It’s a huge help to have a livelihood as a delivery partner, especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community like me. This opportunity to receive capital and proper training to start a business is invaluable."
Pay-It-Forward Initiative
In addition to the business training sessions, the program also emphasized community leadership. Each beneficiary was given a separate allowance to carry out pay-it-forward activities such as community clean-ups, feeding programs, and back-to-school support. Over 300 beneficiaries, including children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, were able to participate in or benefit from these activities.
"It is inspiring to see them not only giving back to the community but also taking the lead in organizing their outreach activities. This reflects the strong Filipino spirit of sharing blessings with those in need," Sanders shared.
The Ka-pandaBIZ: Women on Wheels program is part of foodpanda logistics' broader commitment to corporate social responsibility and gender equality. "By empowering women in the Ka-panda delivery fleet, this program not only enhances their livelihoods but also contributes to the economic growth of their communities."