By Crisdeniele Clemente

Project Alikaka, a program that helps young girls, has won a top regional award for the Association of Tourism Management Students (AToMS) of MMSU College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA). The group received the Ending Violence Against Women Project Excellence Award (E-VAW PEA) from the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office I (CHED RO1) on December 13.

Meaning "to take care" in Ilokano, Project Alikaka provides counseling and support to young girls at Parola Santuwaryo, Inc. in Laoag City. Launched in April 2022, it offers three main activities: education, mental health support, and skills training, all to help the girls cope. 
The project, recognized as a positive example of change in Region I, is a collaboration between AToMS, the Laboratory Travel Hub, and the Junior Association of Hospitality Practitioners.

The E-VAW PEA honors projects that help fight violence against women. It recognizes efforts that raise awareness, support communities, and promote gender equality, encouraging others to build safer and more inclusive spaces for women and girls.

Ms. Nataliza Llapitan, chief of the MMSU Gender and Development Focal Point System, commended the students and faculty behind the project for their dedication to gender advocacy. She said the award shows the university’s work in supporting gender equality and development in the region.

In 2022, Project Alikaka also earned AToMS recognition as one of Ilocos Norte’s Top Accomplished Youth and Organizations.