At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the community of Sitio Bakal in Quezon City was among the hardest-hit. Many of its residents, who were mostly sidewalk and market vendors, lost their livelihoods.

To give the community of Sitio Bakal an alternative livelihood and help address food and water shortage, Australia, through its partner Good Neighbors International Philippines, provided hydroponics tools and materials and skills building workshops on food production and entrepreneurship.

Australia also supported the development of a Seedling Nursery to provide the community a sustainable source of seeds for their hydroponics gardening, and a water hand pump to provide access to clean water.

Watch as the residents of Sitio Bakal share how this initiative has helped their community thrive amid the pandemic: