ABOUT US
OUR STORY
The Social Action for Filipino Youth (SAFFY) began in Manila in 1966 through the initiative of Sister Juliaan Mullie, ICM. Moved by the poverty she witnessed, she started a sewing project with no capital—borrowing machines, using an old door as a cutting table, and relying on the generosity of friends and parish communities. Donations and support from local and international partners helped expand training workshops and income-generating activities for out-of-school youth in Manila, Makati, Quezon City, and later in provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
In 1970, the organization was incorporated as Social Action Foundation for Rural and Urban Development, Inc. (SAFRUDI), a non-stock, non-profit social development organization rooted in Christian values. For decades, SAFRUDI pursued social enterprise initiatives, using SAFFY as its trade name to export quality Fair Trade products worldwide. Locally, the Mano Mano Store brought Filipino-crafted products closer to home.
Through its Integrated Social Development Programs (ISDP), the Foundation continues to support grassroots People’s Organizations through training and project assistance, promoting self-reliance and community development.
In 2013, SAFFY, Inc. was established as an independent trading corporation to strengthen partnerships with buyers such as Ten Thousand Villages USA, SERRV International, Trades of Hope, EZA Fairer Handel, El Puente, Solidar Monde, and Oxfam Magasins, as well as with producers and artisans under Fair Trade principles, further advancing opportunities for marginalized communities while promoting Filipino craftsmanship globally.
Our Mission
To organize marginalized communities and small producers to become self-reliant; to share knowledge, skills, and resources in promoting livelihood, health, and sustainable agriculture; and to create and market new products according to Fair Trade standards.
HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
As a Fair Trade organization, SAFFY seeks to improve the lives of producers and artisans (artisans are workers in skilled trades, especially those who make things by hand) by ensuring they receive fair prices for their products. This enables them to meet basic needs such as education and health care, and creates new opportunities for growth in their livelihoods and overall living conditions.
We also support producers by providing skills training in various aspects of livelihood management, including community organizing, product development, marketing, and production. Training workshops and symposiums are conducted to further enhance their knowledge of relevant information and issues.
The goal of SAFFY, Inc. is to help producers eventually become self-reliant through their own cooperatives and organizations, enabling them to operate independently as strong business enterprises.
