Circle Works Incubation Program
Circle Works Incubation Program
Empowering Cordilleran Youth to Build a Circular Future
Empowering Cordilleran Youth to Build a Circular Future
An 18-month grassroots incubation program to empower youth in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to lead the transition to a circular economy, focusing on plastic waste reduction and sustainable innovation
An 18-month grassroots incubation program to empower youth in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to lead the transition to a circular economy, focusing on plastic waste reduction and sustainable innovation
The Vision: From “Ayyew” to Action
The Vision: From “Ayyew” to Action
The Challenge & Our Approach
The Challenge & Our Approach
The Cordillera Administrative Region faces urgent challenges from growing plastic waste, which threatens its unique environment and public health. At the same time, its youth need sustainable economic opportunities.
The Cordillera Administrative Region faces urgent challenges from growing plastic waste, which threatens its unique environment and public health. At the same time, its youth need sustainable economic opportunities.
This program addresses both issues by building a generation of environmental leaders. We blend modern circular economy strategies (the "R" strategies like Refuse, Rethink, Repair, and Recycle) with the powerful Cordilleran indigenous value of "ayyew"—the traditional principle of resourcefulness and waste avoidance.
This program addresses both issues by building a generation of environmental leaders. We blend modern circular economy strategies (the "R" strategies like Refuse, Rethink, Repair, and Recycle) with the powerful Cordilleran indigenous value of "ayyew"—the traditional principle of resourcefulness and waste avoidance.
Refuse
Rethink
Repair
Recycle
Refuse
Rethink
Repair
Recycle
About the Program
About the Program
What is the Grassroots Youth Incubation Program?
What is the Grassroots Youth Incubation Program?
This 18-month program provides aspiring youth innovators with the training, mentorship, and seed funding needed to launch their own green ventures. We are building a regional pipeline of green startups to tackle circularity challenges.
This 18-month program provides aspiring youth innovators with the training, mentorship, and seed funding needed to launch their own green ventures. We are building a regional pipeline of green startups to tackle circularity challenges.
Key Program Components
Upstream Venture Incubation
A 3-month incubation cycle to help youth-led teams develop ventures focused on "upstream" solutions: R0 (Refuse), R1 (Rethink), and R2 (Reduce).
A 3-month incubation cycle to help youth-led teams develop ventures focused on "upstream" solutions: R0 (Refuse), R1 (Rethink), and R2 (Reduce).
A 3-month incubation cycle to help youth-led teams develop ventures focused on "upstream" solutions: R0 (Refuse), R1 (Rethink), and R2 (Reduce).
A 3-month incubation cycle to help youth-led teams develop ventures focused on "upstream" solutions: R0 (Refuse), R1 (Rethink), and R2 (Reduce).
Community Capacity Building
Hands-on "Repair Café" community events to build technical skills in "midstream" strategies: R3 (Reuse), R4 (Repair), R5 (Refurbish), and more.
Hands-on "Repair Café" community events to build technical skills in "midstream" strategies: R3 (Reuse), R4 (Repair), R5 (Refurbish), and more.
ESG & Impact Excellence
Training by industry experts on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and impact reporting, preparing ventures for partnerships and investment.
Training by industry experts on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and impact reporting, preparing ventures for partnerships and investment.
Training by industry experts on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and impact reporting, preparing ventures for partnerships and investment.
Training by industry experts on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and impact reporting, preparing ventures for partnerships and investment.
Seed Funding
We provide significant financial support to get ventures off the ground, including PHP 600,000 for up to 21 local teams and PHP 1,000,000 each for the top five regional startups.
We provide significant financial support to get ventures off the ground, including PHP 600,000 for up to 21 local teams and PHP 1,000,000 each for the top five regional startups.
up to 21 local teams
Top 5 regional startups
Who Is This For?
Who Is This For?
Who Should Join?
Who Should Join?
Youth aged 16-40 in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Youth aged 16-40 in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Aspiring entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators, and startup enthusiasts
Aspiring entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators, and startup enthusiasts
Students, community leaders, and members of women-led MSMEs.
Students, community leaders, and members of women-led MSMEs.
Anyone passionate about solving plastic waste and building a sustainable future for the Cordilleras.
Anyone passionate about solving plastic waste and building a sustainable future for the Cordilleras.
Location Focus
This program is for residents of all six CAR provinces and Baguio City
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Baguio City
Location Focus
This program is for residents of all six CAR provinces and Baguio City
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Baguio City
Location Focus
This program is for residents of all six CAR provinces and Baguio City
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Baguio City
The Coalition
The Coalition
Our Partners
Our Partners
This program is made possible by a grant from the European Union and is implemented by a consortium of partners dedicated to regional innovation and sustainability.
This program is made possible by a grant from the European Union and is implemented by a consortium of partners dedicated to regional innovation and sustainability.
Vivita Philippines
As a creativity accelerator for youth, Vivita leads the program, providing makerspace resources and expertise in youth incubation.
As a creativity accelerator for youth, Vivita leads the program, providing makerspace resources and expertise in youth incubation.
TARAKI-CAR
The Technological Consortium for Awareness, Readiness, and Advancement of Knowledge in Innovation. Led by the University of the Cordilleras, TARAKI leads regional stakeholder coordination and co-facilitates design thinking workshops
The Technological Consortium for Awareness, Readiness, and Advancement of Knowledge in Innovation. Led by the University of the Cordilleras, TARAKI leads regional stakeholder coordination and co-facilitates design thinking workshops
Ampersand Design Think Lab
A sustainability and ESG-focused firm, Ampersand leads the integration of ESG principles, materiality mapping, and impact reporting for all incubated ventures.
A sustainability and ESG-focused firm, Ampersand leads the integration of ESG principles, materiality mapping, and impact reporting for all incubated ventures.
Expertise France
The grant manager for this European Union-funded project.
The grant manager for this European Union-funded project.
The Program Timeline
The Program Timeline
Your 18-Month Journey
Your 18-Month Journey
Phase 1
Mobilization & Foundation
Mobilization & Foundation
Program launch, stakeholder mapping, and baseline ESG orientation.
Program launch, stakeholder mapping, and baseline ESG orientation.
Phase 2
Phase 2
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Roll-out of community-level Repair Café events to build practical skills and awareness.
Roll-out of community-level Repair Café events to build practical skills and awareness.
Phase 3
Formal Incubation
Formal Incubation
Startup drives and recruitment, followed by structured design thinking, prototyping, and ESG integration workshops, culminating in local demo days.
Startup drives and recruitment, followed by structured design thinking, prototyping, and ESG integration workshops, culminating in local demo days.
Phase 4
Phase 4
Scaling & Post-Acceleration
Scaling & Post-Acceleration
The top teams advance to a regional demo day, receiving major seed funding and joining a post-acceleration mentorship and alumni network.
The top teams advance to a regional demo day, receiving major seed funding and joining a post-acceleration mentorship and alumni network.
Be the Change. Join the Cordilleran Circularity Movement.
Be the Change. Join the Cordilleran Circularity Movement.
Have an idea to tackle plastic waste? Ready to build a green-tech future for the Cordilleras? We want to hear from you.
Apply Now
Partner With us
For inquiries, please contact: gabe@vivita.ph
Implemented by
Implemented by
In Cooperation with
In Cooperation with
Copyright @
2025
Vivita Philippines Charities Non-Stock Corp.
Vivistop Baguio - Berkeley
#30 C.M. Recto St., Saint Joseph Village Brgy
Navy Base, Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines.
Copyright @
2025
Vivita Philippines Charities Non-Stock Corp.
Vivistop Baguio - Berkeley
#30 C.M. Recto St., Saint Joseph Village Brgy
Navy Base, Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines.
Copyright @
2025
Vivita Philippines Charities Non-Stock Corp.
Vivistop Baguio - Berkeley
#30 C.M. Recto St., Saint Joseph Village Brgy
Navy Base, Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines.
Copyright @
2025
Vivita Philippines Charities Non-Stock Corp.
Vivistop Baguio - Berkeley
#30 C.M. Recto St., Saint Joseph Village Brgy
Navy Base, Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines.