Financial Literacy — from 2009, still a continuing FWC Programme
The concept of financial literacy starts from an analysis of the so-called two faces of migration—the positive and the negative.
The positive refers to the increase in the income/economic standing of migrant workers and their families due mainly to the favorable exchange rate and in many cases the multiple jobs that they shoulder. The negative on the other hand refers mainly to the human and social cost of migration—chiefly, the separation of families and its impact on relationships, especially those of parent-child and husband-wife.
The financial literacy strategy is to stabilize and prolong the positive effects of migration while minimizing its negative effects. On the economic aspect this means developing a good mindset and habits such as learning how to manage money, avoiding unnecessary expenses and going into debt, keeping within a balanced budget and saving money for the future. This applies both to returning migrants and those who opt to integrate into the host country. Returning migrants will need to replace their previous sources of income. Those who stay will also have to replace and supplement their previous sources of income. Thus financial literacy stresses the importance of savings and investments by the migrant worker.
There are partnership efforts by government, the private sector and NGOs to conduct financial literacy orientation and training seminars. The NGO Atikha, in partnership with the Filipino Women’s Council (FWC) and Comitato Internationale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli (CISP), with the support of the European Union-United Nations Joint Migration and Development Initiatives (JMDI) conducted a training of trainers (TOT) on financial literacy among migrant leaders in Rome and in Milan in 2008 and 2009.
The general objective of the projects implemented was to ensure that migrants will be able to save and invest and address family issues so that they can successfully integrate in Italy or reintegrate with their family in the Philippines The methodology being used in the seminar is a combination of lecture discussion and workshops to be able to apply what they learned on financial planning and addressing family issues. Participants are expected to:
1. Be aware of the various economic and social issues of migration and the barriers to reintegration;
2. Understand goal setting, budgeting, financial planning and borrowing and ensure together with their families to apply what they learned;
3. Identify and address their issues and concerns that cause estrangement in relationships and drain their resources to enable them to achieve family goals for migration.
The topics of the seminar are:
Part 1 – Overview on the Duality of Migration and Concept of Migration: Development
Part 2 – Financial Planning
Part 3 – Why are we not able to Save and Invest? Addressing Family Issues that Drain their Resources
The FWC is able to continue the conduct of financial literacy seminars, thanks to the support and partnership of the OWWA – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
The first initiative in such partnership was through the project “Maximizing the Gains and Minimizing the Social Costs of Overseas Migration in the Philippines” (http://www.maximizingthegainsofmigration.org/ – being renewed by CISP to reactivate site) implemented in 2009-2011 — an endeavor that mobilized Filipino migrant and hometown associations in maximizing the development potential of migration whilst minimizing its social cost on migrants and families left behind.
Results and lessons learned
Creation of increased awareness of the Filipinos and other stakeholders on the issues of migration and development and migrant social and civil rights in Italy by updating, reprinting and disseminating 2,000 copies of the Guide for Filipino migrants in Italy.
A public forum was also held reaching 312 Filipino migrants and leaders in collaboration with 6 associations and confederations in Turin, Naples, Florence and Rome. Fora and consultation meetings on the nexus on migration and development addressed to local authorities and associations in the Philippines were also held. Specifically, 5 consultations on migration and development and integrating migration in the local development plan with local authorities and associations were conducted in the Philippines, attended by 318 participants from 5 provinces, 20 cities and municipalities.
FWC’s Gender Awareness and Violence Against Women (VAW) Education Initiatives
As part of its long-standing advocacy and community education work among Filipino migrants in Italy, the Filipino Women’s Council (FWC) developed and conducted a series of Gender Awareness and Violence Against Women (VAW) seminars in different cities in Italy. These activities aimed to raise awareness on gender equality, women’s rights, empowerment, family relations, and the growing concerns related to violence against women within migrant communities.
FWC initially prepared the training modules and conducted an internal dry run in Siena, Tuscany in May 2015 among FWC members. Following this, seminars were organized in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Rome upon the request of Ambassadors Virgilio Reyes and Domingo P. Nolasco, with the participation of Embassy staff. Similar seminars were later conducted with the officers, staff, and family members of the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, as well as with Filipino community organizations and migrant participants in Siena, Bologna, Naples, Milan, Florence, several communities in Rome, and other areas in Italy.
The Gender Awareness module aimed to empower both women and men to better understand gender relations and to make informed and strategic life choices in situations where such opportunities or capacities may have previously been limited or denied. The module introduced key concepts, definitions, and issues related to gender and development, including the importance of mainstreaming women’s needs and perspectives in ways that benefit both women and men. It also encouraged participants to reflect on gender relations within their own lives, families, workplaces, and communities, and to better understand gender-based inequalities and discrimination.
Part of the discussions included the history of women’s struggles for equality in the Philippines, with particular emphasis on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted by the United Nations in 1979 and later ratified by the Philippines. The seminars also highlighted Article II, Section 14 of the Philippine Constitution, which recognizes the role of women in nation-building and guarantees the fundamental equality of women and men before the law.
The Introduction to Violence Against Women (VAW) module provided definitions and examples of different forms of domestic violence, including the social, economic, psychological, mental, and physical impacts of abuse on victims, who are predominantly women. The module also introduced participants to Italian laws and policies addressing violence against women, and provided practical information on how and where to seek assistance through anti-violence centers, social services, institutions, and support organizations in different areas of Italy.
Overall, the Gender Awareness and VAW seminars generated strong interest and active participation among Filipino migrant communities in Italy. Activities were conducted in Siena, Milan, Bologna, Naples, Florence, several communities in Rome, and other areas in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Rome and OWWA – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, as part of continuing efforts to promote gender awareness, empowerment, and community well-being.
Lobby and advocacy
The organization has been a resource for institutions in Italy, in the Philippines both at government and non-government levels for over 20 years now, most especially that FWC has been active participant to the United Nations, the European Commission’s consultation meetings related to gender, migration and development. Below are some of the reports of such active participation.
Aubrey Abarintos_Report_ENAR Participation report
Glenda Dolor_Report of Consultation Summit delle Diaspore_final
Living in Italy: pathways to social integration
In an effort to promote the integration of the Filipino migrants, the Philippine Embassy high-ranking officials has commissioned our organization, the Filipino Women’s Council (FWC) to prepare a module on what we think were the most important points to discuss in a Post-arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) aimed to target Filipino migrants who have recently arrived to join their families.
Despite the decline in the influx of Filipinos to Italy, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco has emphasized the importance of PAOS in enhancing the capacity of Filipino migrants to cope with the new challenges and opportunities of living and working in Italy.
So we decided to do a crosscutting presentation that would contain key social, economic and labour issues that we have often encountered in our many years of work supporting the domestic workers. We initially made a very thorough research on the current policies, labour and market trends, training programmes and jobs available for those who were looking for jobs, or wishing to upgrade their capacities to find another job.
On December 2, 2018 therefore, the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar was held at Teatro Aurelio, in Rome—with the complete attendance of all Embassy officials and staff, and with the participation of over 100 domestic workers, mostly women; including representatives of Filipino community organizations in Rome and nearby cities.
Our presentation started by enumerating and explaining a few relevant articles of the Italian Constitutions where fundamental rights, i.e., civil, political and social rights are FOR ALL. The current migration and integration policies for migrants were explained in detail, and provided a list of key institutions providing free social services; guidance on how to keep-up with legal processes; available training programmes; including the labour market trends and manpower needs in the country.
We also dedicated a section in our presentation on the misconceptions of many Filipino migrant workers in living and coping with issues in Italy. A very lively discussion and clarification of rights and responsibilities as migrant workers was underlined by the one of the resource persons — the Don’ts (what to avoid or not do), that we based mainly from the most common misdemeanours and improper actions made by some members of the community in the country.
Many of these mistakes often lead to irregularity of documentations and lack of proper attention on policies and regulations that often affect access to many social services such as medical assistance and healthcare, social contribution, etc. Highlighted also are the growing concern on drug abuse, domestic violence; over-indebtedness; family break-ups and ensuing consequences on children, their education, and well-being of the whole family.
Officials of the Philippine Embassy and its partner agencies, i.e., the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Social Security Services and Pag-IBIG also outlined their various programs and services available.
FWC provided hands-on information based on our working experiences and most often referring to policies, including the distribution of hand-outs with a lists of relevant integration policies, addresses and links of many integration services for information.
The seminar was first of its kind; and the Embassy officials, FWC and all participants wished that such activity could continue because migration policies in Italy will keep on changing.
by Charito Basa, Dona Rose Dela Cruz and Flora Ventura
Archival Note and Disclaimer
This training module was developed by the Filipino Women’s Council (FWC) in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in Italy for the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) held in Rome on 2 December 2018.
The module was designed to provide newly arrived Filipino migrants with practical information on rights, responsibilities, social integration, labor conditions, welfare services, and access to institutions and public services in Italy.
The material reflects the migration, labor, and integration context at the time of its preparation. While many of the social and integration issues discussed remain relevant today, some laws, administrative procedures, institutional references, statistical data, online links, and public service systems may have changed over time.
This module is therefore presented as an archival and educational document that also reflects the long-standing community education and integration work of the Filipino Women’s Council among Filipino migrants in Italy.
Readers are encouraged to verify current regulations, procedures, and official information directly with the relevant Italian and Philippine authorities and institutions.
Filipino Women's Council 