Piecing together broken eggshells and lives

NEGRENSE artisans at work, creating unique art pieces for the home or office.

BACOLOD CITY— Negrense artisans painstakingly pieced together over the past few weeks thousands of tiny pieces of cracked egg shells to create stunning mosaic art pieces to help raise funds to uplift the lives of those in need.

The eggshell pieces were inspired by the designs of mosaic artist Millie Kilayko, president of the Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc. (NVC).

They came in the form of tabletop designs and wall frames, usually portraying religious icons such as the “Sleeping St. Joseph” and “Mary Undoer of Knots.” These images were made popular by Pope Francis during his visit in the country last January.

Curio birds in various colors were also fashioned from this unique medium.

These unique Bacolod-made artisan pieces were sold during three Manila exhibits: MaARTe Craft, Food and Design Fair at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City from Aug. 28 to 30; September Tea with the Museum Volunteers of the Philippines at the Urdaneta Village Clubhouse in Makati on Sept. 11; and the 30th Negros Trade Fair at the Glorietta Palm Drive Entrance in Makati City from Sept. 16 to 20.

“Proceeds [supported] NVC’s livelihood programs that are focused on uplifting the lives of those who have less,” Kilayko said.

The eggshells donated to NVC by local pastry shops and bakeries were carefully cleaned and processed to form the mosaic art pieces.

The procedure is tedious, but Kilayko finds joy in seeing the precious pieces created by her dedicated workers.

Kilayko learned to make mosaics during a workshop three years ago. She began dreaming big time, even producing a seven-panel mural representing the seven days of creation.

But Kilayko quickly grew restless.

“To me, it seemed like a sin to be doing what I did purely for enjoyment. I wanted to spend my time productively doing things for others, especially those who have less in life.” she said.

Her first batch of artisans were her household staff. They were able to create 1,000 pieces of crucifixes, sold later to raise funds for NVC.

The following year, she began to train more people from poor communities. She believed the craft could help provide employment.

She targeted making 100 mosaic-topped folding tables. Again, she met the goal.

Based on NVC’s audited financial statements, livelihood development programs have generated a sizeable amount converted to support the organization and its mission of providing nutritional support to infants and toddlers of poor families.

As it turned five years old on Aug. 20, NVC reported that it has served 19 provinces through projects geared toward providing nutrition, livelihood and education. NVC has also built 195 classrooms and provided more than 4,682 motorized boats to fishermen in disaster-stricken areas.

It has also provided more than 3.9 million meals featuring “mingo” (an instant blend from rice, mung beans and moringa or malunggay).

“Mingo” is a staple item in NVC’s “Start Right, Live Bright Nutrition Program,” a six-month initiative providing complementary food for infants and toddlers in deprived communities, assuring them of the nutrients needed for optimal growth and development, Kilayko said.

As of July 31, NVC has enrolled 14,626 children in the nutrition program, she added.

And more children would benefit from the program as more eggshell pieces are sold.

Kilayko stresses that there is more to the finished product than meets the eye.

“It is a symbol of the dreams we have at NVC. We work with communities that are broken in many ways: Families destroyed due to poverty or natural disasters; dreams not met because of lack of education; children who grow up stunted because of malnutrition. A finished product from broken eggshells reflects both our hope and our mission: Transforming that which is broken to be whole again, in a possibly better form.” Kilayko said.

“The process also reminds us the broken pieces cannot just become whole on their own, they need to be put together by many hands and minds and hearts. And that is what we are. We are nothing without our partners, donors and volunteers. But with them, and because of them, we have been able to fulfill our mission of providing sustainable livelihood to disadvantaged communities, as well as child development through proper nutrition,” she said.