Finding a job immediately after graduation is one of the struggles for most new graduates. But the door opens to Lyca Dyna Shane Imperial, 24, from Maopi, Daraga, Albay, as she became one of the beneficiaries of Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) Cash-for-Work Program (CFWP) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

The program has led Lyca to know the vision of DSWD deeply. As an Education graduate, she never thought of landing into this opportunity and discovering more of herself, the passion for helping and giving services to other people through the Department.

“Pumasok po sa isip ko na sabi ko, balang araw gusto kong maging isang parte ng DSWD. Kasi kung dati po, ako po yung nakakatanggap ng tulong gaya po noong sa KALAHI-CIDSS na naging beneficiary po kami ng ganung program po (KKB CFWP), ngayon po parang nakikita ko na kaya kong tumulong sa iba katuwang ang DSWD po,” she said.

(It came across my mind that I said, one day I want to be a part of the DSWD. Because before, I was the one receiving assistance, like when we became beneficiaries of the program in KALAHI-CIDSS [KKB CFWP], now I see myself that I can help others through DSWD.)

Personally seeing the smile on the faces of the beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of DSWD and how it helped improve the living conditions of the people, Lyca became more interested in becoming part of the agency.

“Like gaya po ng SLP po, nagbibigay po sila ng pangkabuhayan doon po sa mga taong deserving na magkaroon talaga ng ganoong kabuhayan. And as far na na-experience ko po sa SLP, marami po talaga silang natulungan. Like yung isa po, nakita ko po talaga siya na kung saan po ay nagkaroon po siya ng puhunan and yung kanyang project po is babuyan po. And ngayon po, lumago na po siya,” she shared.

(Like SLP, they provide livelihood to people who really deserve to have it. And as far as I’ve experienced with SLP, the program really helped a lot. Like the other one, I’ve really seen him had the capital and his business was piggery. And now, it’s growing.)

It was a dream come true for Lyca to become an instrument in helping other people improve their living conditions through the agency. For her, it is not just a job, but rather an achievement that gives genuine fulfillment to her.

“Very fulfilling po kasi parang achievement ko na rin po ito. Kasi aside po sa nakakatulong po ako sa parents ako, nakakatulong din po ako sa ibang tao sa tulong po ng DSWD. And doon po sa mga natutulungan ng DSWD, natutuwa po ako sa kanila kasi hindi po nila sinasayang yung perang binibigay po ng DSWD. Kung saan ginamit po talaga nila ito kung saan para dapat yung pera,” she explained.

(It is very fulfilling because it feels like an achievement for me. Aside from helping my parents, I was able to help other people through DSWD. And for those beneficiaries of the agency, I am happy for them as they didn’t waste the money given to them. And they are using it for what it’s meant to be.)

For Lyca, her journey from a beneficiary to becoming an employee is priceless, and she could compare it to a mango tree, where the tree represents them, the beneficiary, while DSWD represents the roots that find them to be a beneficiary of its program.

“So masasabi ko po na yung journey ko po galing po ng beneficiary to an employee is puno po siya ng mangga. Ang puno po ay kami at ang mga ugat po ay ang DSWD kung saan po hinanap po nila kami para po magsangay-sangay po na maging beneficiary po nila. At kung saan din po yung mga bunga, yung aside po doon sa nagkaroon kami ng sahod, yung pinakamataas po na bunga is yung mga learnings namin at yung pagiging employee ko po ng DSWD,” she noted.

(I can say that my journey from beneficiary to employee is like a mango tree. The tree represents us, and the roots are the DSWD that finds us to become its beneficiaries. And the fruits, aside from the salary we earned, the sweetest fruit is our learnings and my journey of becoming an employee of the DSWD.)

Reflecting on her journey, Lyca considered the KKB-CFWP for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as the light that guides her into walking the path that will lead to self-discovery and attainment of her  .

“Para po sa akin, napakahalaga po ng ganitong programa para po sa amin kasi sila po yung naglalayon na mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang bawat Pilipino. At dahil po sa programang ito, nabigyan po ako ng pagkakataon na maging isang parte ng government work na kung saan hindi lang po pamilya ko ang natutulungan ko, pati na rin po ibang tao sa pamamagitan ng DSWD,” she highlighted.

(For me, this kind of program is very important for us because it aims to give every Filipino a good future. And because of this program, I was given the opportunity to be part of government work, where I was able to help not just my family but also other people through DSWD.)

Written by: Alexandra H. Burce