received some machineries donated by the Kolping International Society in Germany in 1987, the local branch, in its desire to utilize the equipment, organized several unemployed residents in Calabanga to train in handicraft making.

Training was provided by resource persons who were themselves engaged in handicraft making. Soon after, the group was exhibiting their products in local and national trade fairs. But the Kolping venture into handicraft making never really took off. Not even a parallel venture into wood-based products and accessories thrived. The 10-member Kolping handicraft workers did not seem to be rally interested or comfortable with handicraft making as a business.

Anxious for a more productive and suitable venture and skilled in handcrafting wood-based products and accessories, they tried to adapt their know-how to crafting bamboo that grew abundantly on the 11-hectare property owned by the Kolping Society of the Philippines. For some reason, the association members discovered an innate skill and interest in bamboocraft.

The challenge of utilizing bamboo for purposes other than furniture, of creating and executing designs and were both functional and artistic, of developing never before thought of ways of crafting bamboo fired the immigration of the Kolping workers.

The Kolping members' drive and motivation to achieve and create quality products attracted the interest of CCAP. The synchronization and the mutuality of their goals gave birth to a collaboration that saw some CCAP-sponsored product development and design sessions for the Kolping group.

CCAP provides Kolping marketing and promotions assistance and the services of a designer who regularly conduct intensive product development and design sessions with the group's production staff. This has resulted in the development of exquisite designs that use and bring together hitherto unemployed and unexploited styles and material combinations.

The challenge of sustaining this creative and productive partnership keeps both the CCAP and Kolping mutually alert for ideas and design prospects.

For the CCAP and Kolping, traversing together the path to innovation and growth, relevance and success is a unique and fulfilling experience.


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