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I heard of the KNN last year but I never really knew what it was all about until I became one of the members of the board of the USC College of Commerce Alumni Association Inc. (COCAAI) this year.
KNN is short for “Kapamilya Negosyo Na,” a project conceived by the USC-COCAAI as a means to make a difference in our society. As an association, USC-COCAAI wants to be seen not just as a social club, but as an instrument for social transformation or change from where we are now – where the greater part of the fruits of life goes only to the lucky few in our society while the unfortunate many, despite their hard labor, gets only very little – to that where everyone is given the opportunity to participate in nation building, particularly in business, and gets in return what they contributed much to our society.
Since the field of business management and commerce is the common background of its members, it is just fitting that USC-COCAAI has the KNN as a program where they can show and exercise their responsibility of using their knowledge and skills in helping our people realize their potentials as active partners in our effort at nation building.
Through the KNN, the USC-COCAAI also gets the opportunity to strengthen its ties with its alma mater. This is done by involving the different departments of the College of Commerce of the University of San Carlos by contributing their human resources, among others, to the KNN project, since social transformation or the betterment of our society is also one of the university’s avowed goals.
The KNN could not be successful without the knowledge and support of its target population. To get more people to be involved with the project, the USC-COCAAI saw the need to partner with of ABS-CBN not only by using some of its airtime to inform the public about the KNN but also as a means to educate and train its listeners about entrepreneurship and encourage them to go into business with the help of the KNN. ABS-CBC stands for public service and willingly embraced the KNN.
USC-COCAAI raised the funds needed to implement the KNN by soliciting from its alumni and friends. During the third run (season), the association applied and was granted accreditation with the Department of Labor and Employment under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP). After review, the DOLE also qualified the association to receive a grant of P875,000. With this, the KNN expanded the number of its target beneficiaries and the scope of assistance that it gives to those qualified.
With the help of the USC College of Commerce, its alumni and friends, ABS-CBN and DOLE, the USC-COCAAI, through the KNN, aims to educate as many individuals as can be reached by the program about entrepreneurship and give them the opportunity to start their small business by giving them direct financial and technical assistance.
In the first three runs of the KNN, almost a thousand individuals were given training on livelihood skills conducted yearly. It directly benefited over 500 people through its business planning workshops. Through its radio program at ABS-CBN, KNN also helped countless people by giving them more knowledge and information about entrepreneurship and how to run and manage a business. Eighty people were also trained and coached individually in planning their small business. Of the twenty six individuals who were given the opportunity to implement their business plans through the seed capital provided by the program, nineteen went on to formalize and successfully run their chosen enterprises until now and greatly changed their lives for the better.
There is no doubt that through its various components and events, the KNN has greatly influenced the mindsets of many ordinary people about entrepreneurship and business. They had been given hope by the KNN. The current budget of the KNN limits the individualized training and technical assistance given directly to its beneficiaries but more are still assisted by the KNN through its referral and assistance given to small business in obtaining loans from banks and other sources. “Pangitaag puhunan,” USC COCAAI says.
Devin Go of Sulpicio lines is this year’s USC-COCAAI president. Working with him in the association are vice president Liberato Reyes, secretary Tertuliana Andaya, treasurer Gayle Marie Sinadjan, and auditor Edwin Rivera. Also in the Board of USC-COCAAI are Anita Gaanan, Fe Ediza Cabigon, Marissa Puche, Carmen Piramide, Beth Villarin, Anna Marie Rabor, Gina Rosales, Ruth Paredes, Philip Tan, Elsa Eguia, Jerenia Samaco, Cergen Go, Rene Paquibot, and this writer.
You want to help promote entrepreneurship among our people and develop more small business? Contact us at USC-COCAAI, care of the USC College of Commerce Office, USC Main.
