A Special Program of the Coca-Cola Philippines (COKE) and the TESDA dubbed as “Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) Program”, in coordination with a micro-finance institution – Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI) and Local Government Units of selected program sites has been launched this first quarter of 2014.
STAR Program aims to economically empower the target women beneficiaries by providing them the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude that will transform them into becoming better and successful entrepreneurs.
S³TAR Program recognizing the significant role of women as potential engines of economic and community development, the Coca-Cola Company made a commitment to empower 5 million women by 2020. Through the 5by20 Program, the Coca-Cola Company will help women entrepreneurs overcome the barriers they face to business success by providing:
- Business and life skills training;
- Access to finance and financial services; and
- Access to merchandising support and business assets.
The 5BY20 program aims to give millions of women the opportunities to reach their potentials and alleviate their quality of life as a response to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals on empowering women. Through this global commitment, Coca-Cola Philippines and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) develop a program that will enhance the business knowledge and skills of women sari-sari store owners and operators.
The program will give the sari-sari store women the opportunity to experience formal skills training, something that most of them do not have as majority of our target recipients did not finish or reach high school education.
The program aims to cultivate business discipline that will enable them to tap resources to grow their business. In order to fully implement the business support model of the Program, TESDA and Coca-Cola shall form a Regional Program Convergence Implementing Team consisting of community stakeholders, local government units and women’s group- this is where various organizations converge for a common goal.