Third episode of Beyond Borders teaches Emratis how to make shoes, farm and embroidery

ABU DHABI // Farming, shoe-making and embroidery were among the tasks facing a group of young Emiratis during a trip to the Philippines – and the work taught them much more than just practical skills.

The activities were part of a life-changing journey to the archipelago filmed for the six-part documentary series Beyond Borders.

The third episode follows the three Emirati men and three Emirati women working at the GK Enchanted Farm, about an hour outside of Manila.

“Everything you see around us is built from scratch,” said Jerick Limoanco, Executive Assistant at the sustainable community development which helps communities by developing idle and unproductive land into crop-producing fields. It also teaches people how to start social enterprises and communities from the ground up.

The Emirati volunteers were soon getting their hands dirty by clearing weeds, picking tomatoes and watering plants.

“Its very hard work,” said 17-year-old Mariam Al Kuwaiti, who cut grass with a sickle.

“We got tired from day one but they have been here for two years now.”

“You don’t get a chance to do this in the UAE everyday,” said 18-year-old Salem Al Marar.

After an active morning the volunteers dug into their much-deserved lunch with the local farmers.

“Its very traditional for us to eat with our hands,” said Mr Limoanco.

After lunch the participants where shown the main goal of the project - to create a village university for entrepreneurs where classrooms are connected to the community, therefore providing an ideal setting for students to build valuable social enterprises through innovative ideas.

GK Enchanted farms now house 50 enterprises, including Plushin N Play, a toy venture started by Fabien Kourteille.

After coming to the Philippines to volunteer the French citizen noticed that all the toys available were coming from overseas.

“My goal is to provide safer toys to Filipinos which have the culture and values of the Philippines,” he said.

Examples include a toy Jeepney, a public transportation vehicle in the Philippines, made from bamboo grown on the farm.

One of the stuffed toy fruits is called Manny Pakwan, which combines the name of the famous Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and the Tagalog word for watermelon, Pakwan.

“He’s creating toys which are made in the Philippines by Filipinos and are suited for Filipinos,” said one of the volunteers, Ahmed.

He said he hoped that this example of community work would catch on in the UAE.

“Its better to make things in the UAE than bringing in from outside. We already have a lot of imports, and its better to have more exports which will benefit the UAE,” he said

The next journey took the volunteers to the Laguna province, south of Manila, where they once again had to use their hands.

Visiting a small shoe-shop in the city of Liliw, famous for its footwear, they were again exposed to the idea of building from the ground-up.

“I started as being a service lady in the stores,” said Edna Aragon, owner of Edna’s footwear for 16 years.

“I would look at designs in magazines and create my own.’

With the city now full of similar shoe shops, Ms Aragon said the way she stayed competitive was to be the manufacturer, wholesaler and supplier.

“It’s a simple business but they are motivated and want to get bigger,” said Mohammed, another Emirati taking part in the show.

“I hope more Emiratis begin small and step by step get bigger. We must struggle to see the benefit.”

Beyond Borders airs every Friday on MBC1 at 2pm, with reruns on Saturdays at 6.30am.