The artistic heart that was destined to serve
One designer’s journey home leads him to the path of Social Entrepreneurship
Regardless of one’s profession, the opportunity to give back will always find its way to an individual.
PJ Arañador, an international lifestyle designer, forerunner of PJ Arañador International Design Consultancy, moved from working in other countries and returned to Manila and back to his hometown in Iloilo, then involved himself with social design which is a process wherein creative professionals impart their talents with the aim of improving others’ lives.
As Arañador puts it “I would re-invent myself with a sense of purpose to work with the grassroots from my land of birth other than with the glamorous exhibitions’ spotlights and runway cocktails of some strange faraway land.” Because social entrepreneurship provides innovative solutions to social problems, it takes into account the positive effects on society.
With the help of Gawad Kalinga and partners Smart Communications, Inc., Business Fair Trade Consulting (BiZFTC),GK Sooc Arevalo, Gawad Kalinga site in Iloilo, GKonomics, and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Project Zero was incepted. Anchored on the idea of “zero resources, zero waste, zero carbon footprint, zero harm, and zero poverty”, Project Zero differentiates itself from other brands simply by sharing the earnings to those who are in need. “We must say Project Zero has indeed zeroed into the core of community development through empowerment.” shares Arañador.
The women of GK Sooc Village, or the “nanays”, were delegated to undertake the task of handcrafting the “high quality, high fashion” bags that are produced through a green or environment-friendly process. This also helps them support their livelihood.
Recently winning the Asia Communication Awards this year, the “nanays” will definitely make any fellow Filipino proud. It only shows that they have really gone a long way from the usual transforming of outdoor billboard tarpaulin into functional bags. They have been empowered as individuals as well.
Arañador summarized it perfectly when he said that nobody would think these high fashion bags were “made in a land so poor that each bag had the imprint of hope to save their community from becoming poorer, “ and that these “women with less of education would rise above themselves by helping their own community.”
“While we celebrate profits in social entrepreneurship, we also celebrate responsibility and sustainability. The sanctity of our service to the community is a call by our own sense of nation building.” he adds.
Designers like Arañador will serve as an inspiration to anyone, whatever profession they may be in, that they can give back and help society and be part of a movement to reduce poverty in their own way.