Work-from-home Super Nanays

AboitizPower, Elevate AIDA helps upskill stay-at-home moms in Bukidnon

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Three moms from Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon shared stories of delicate balancing acts and rewarded commitments as they recounted their experiences in Elevate AIDA, a program that empowers women by teaching them remote work skills and basic professional and computer abilities.

Elevate AIDA—which stands for artificial intelligence (A.I.) and data annotation—was developed by social impact startup group Connected Women with the support of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) and the Aboitiz Foundation. In Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Hedcor, a renewable energy arm of AboitizPower, led the initiative together with the local government.

"Before I joined Elevate AIDA, I was a plain housewife, always at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of my child. Sometimes, I would wish for a job I could do from home, so I could still look after my child and help add to our income," shared Kimberly Gumaling, a mother to a growing daughter who also volunteers at her local nutrition office.

"I have been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, taking care of three children," added Rhiza Mae Macalos, a breastfeeding mother and advocate, who helps moms like herself. "I saw [Elevate AIDA] as a great opportunity for mothers to have jobs while staying at home and still taking care of their kids, which is really what most moms want."

"When I told my husband that I was going to train for this, he was amazed and asked, 'what's that for?' I explained that it's a career path where I could work from home, so I wouldn't need to leave the house. Since our family is always our top priority, he became very supportive and started helping me even during my training."