Mushroom Cultivation for Empowering Young Girls

In 2023, DG-Bridge launched a mushroom cultivation project in the Philippines, initiated by a proposal of a group of employees from Genashtim, a Singapore-based social enterprise, in line with its Sustainable Program for People Impact campaign. The project aimed to provide young girls at Tahanan Sta. Luisa, a shelter for abused girls in Manila, with valuable entrepreneurship skills and a sustainable source of income.

With funding by DG-Bridge, Tahanan Sta. Luisa’s administrators immediately set up an oyster mushroom-growing house within the shelter’s compound. The girls enthusiastically participated in every stage of the mushroom cultivation process, from planting to harvesting. The excitement at harvest time was palpable, as the girls beamed with pride while collecting buckets of pristine white oyster mushrooms. Some of their harvests were even sold to nearby restaurants.

Unfortunately, extreme weather conditions last summer temporarily suspended the project. The girls, however, are eager to resume their mushroom-growing project this rainy season, with the help of the Bureau of Plant Industry.

DG-Bridge is proud to be part of this empowering initiative, helping these girls develop the skills and confidence they need to become independent, and self-sufficient members of society. We wish the girls a bountiful harvest in the coming season!