Story by Alison Marie Jamias, Program Officer
For 20 women weavers at ANTHILL’s Circularity Hub in Payatas, Quezon City, turning discarded textiles into new products is both a craft and a source of livelihood. Strengthening the enterprise behind their work means learning how to plan production, manage finances, work together, and communicate the value of what they create.
To support this, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), in collaboration with ANTHILL, conducted a two-day Shell LiveWire training on September 11 and 18, 2026, under the Re-Shell: Weaving Wastes program. Facilitated by PSFI’s Alison Marie Jamias and Joshua Isreal Banog, the sessions helped participants develop entrepreneurial, financial, and organizational skills to support the Circularity Hub’s operations and growth.
The training covered Introduction to Business and Community Enterprise, Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECs), Production Planning, Financial Planning, Pitching, and Organizational Management. Connecting these topics to the weavers’ everyday responsibilities helped participants explore how sound business practices and shared accountability can strengthen their community enterprise.
Among the participants was Analiza, who shared that learning to weave had long been a dream. Joining ANTHILL’s Circularity Hub gave her the opportunity to develop her craft while helping transform textile waste into useful products. Through the Shell LiveWire training, she also gained confidence in explaining her work and communicating her contribution to the enterprise.
That confidence was a focus of the pitching session. Participants practiced telling the stories behind their products, describing their craftsmanship, and engaging with potential customers, government representatives, and other stakeholders. The exercises drew on their daily experiences at the hub, helping them speak about work they know firsthand.
The session also prepared more weavers to facilitate learning visits and tours. By sharing how their products are made and why their work matters, participants can help visitors better understand the people, skills, and processes behind the Circularity Hub.
Beyond individual skills, the training emphasized the shared responsibilities of running a community enterprise. Participants reflected on their strengths, explored ways to improve communication and collective decision-making, and developed action points to support their organization’s long-term sustainability.
These efforts complement the environmental purpose of Re-Shell: Weaving Wastes. The program gives textile materials, including fabric scraps, production offcuts, discarded clothing, linens, and towels, a second life by weaving them into new fabrics and marketable products. It connects the practical work of keeping materials in use with opportunities for community livelihood.
Through the partnership between PSFI and ANTHILL, the women weavers of Payatas are strengthening both their craft and the skills needed to sustain it. As they turn textile waste into products of value, they are also learning to plan for their enterprise’s future and share the stories behind every weave.
