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Institutional Profile

 The Foundation's outstanding performance in the fight against illiteracy in the Philippines has made it a recipient of the prestigious United Nations Literacy Award, the "1997 UNESCO-King Sejong International Literacy Prize", sponsored by the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and the Government of the Republic of Korea.

The Notre Dame Foundation for Charitable Activities, Inc. - WOMEN IN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (NDFCAI-WED) was identified and selected by the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) as its NGO partner in the Philippines in its 1995 Programme for Establishing Literacy Resource Centre for Women and Girls in the Philippines. It was selected from amongst a number of NGOs engaged in literacy work and promotion in the country. The NDFCAI-WED is an NGO whose project activities are specifically focused on "literacy and enterprise development", serving marginalized and unemployed women, and out-of-school youth of Cotabato City and its surrounding environs.

WED was established in 1984 as the community extension arm of the College of Commerce of Notre Dame University. Today, it has expanded its operations and is now under the auspices of the Notre Dame Foundation for Charitable Activities, Inc., of the Archdiocese of Cotabato. It is a Catholic-based institution, serving both Muslims and Christians of Region 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It is currently serving NGOs and their communities in the Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD) areas under the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development. It is highly respected, credible and fully accepted as an NGO engaged in literacy and enterprise development work. It is considered in the Philippines as a "model" literacy program implementor. The project is a recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, both within the country and worldwide.

In 1995, it was selected as the MOST OUTSTANDING LITERACY PROGRAM during the National Competitions on Literacy as conducted by the Literacy Coordinating Council of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Rotary Club of Manila, and the Asian Institute of Journalism. In 1996, it was a recipient of another INTERNATIONAL AWARD ON VIDEO PRODUCTION by the Asia Pacific Cultural Centre of UNESCO.