The Olango Sindaw Ko Kauyagan Producer cooperative in Piagapo, a village located in the hills above Lake Lanao, was established following the siege of Marawi. This siege, which lasted for five months, involved terrorist groups linked to the Islamic State taking over and occupying the city of Marawi.
The cooperative, which consists of 38 women, includes 18 who were forced to flee their homes in Marawi and seek refuge in Piagapo.
One member of the cooperative, Asnia Dalan, shared her experience with UN News’s Daniel Dickinson during a workshop at the cooperative.
“When the city was attacked, I had no choice but to leave my home in Marawi. I was filled with fear and escaped with my four children, carrying only the bare essentials. Luckily, my other three children were not at home at the time. It took us five hours of walking to reach Piagapo.
Reflecting on that time, I have mixed emotions. No one expected the attack, but when it happened, I lost everything I had worked for in an instant. I used to sell sandals in the old market, but my business was destroyed by the terrorists. I feel a deep anger about this.
I came to Piagapo because I have family here, and I started farming and growing crops such as vegetables, peanuts, and corn.
The cooperative is made up of people like myself who were displaced, as well as local residents. We have a great working relationship and enjoy working together not only in the fields, but also in our new sewing workshop. There is always laughter as we learn and work together.
Adjusting to my new life here was easy, and now we have a close-knit community.
We received training on sewing machines, and we now produce a variety of products, including bags, curtains, and bedsheets. We initially started with making bedsheets, but as our skills have grown, we have expanded to making different styles of bags.
Fifteen members were initially trained, and they have passed on their knowledge to the rest of the cooperative.
Last month, I sold 15 bedsheets for 500 pesos ($8.50) each. Most of the money goes back to the cooperative for materials and running the workshop, but I earned 1500 pesos ($25.50) for myself.
My current favorite item is a green patterned bag made from traditional cloth. I love the color as it represents paradise and peace for Muslim people like myself. It’s a practical size and would be useful for a mother to carry items for her baby, such as diapers and creams.
We work in shifts, taking turns to use the ten sewing machines, but we are often interrupted by frequent power outages. We are hoping to get a generator so we can work more consistently.
I prefer sewing over farming because I can work indoors and be protected from the sun. Farming is hard work, so my goal is to make enough money through sewing to support myself, but I’m not there yet.
My advice to anyone interested in starting a sewing business is to receive training and always try new designs. And of course, practice makes perfect.
I have visited Marawi a few times, but I do not plan on returning to live there. My new life is here, and I have more opportunities, especially in sewing.”