HISTORY
In 1968, to be able to generate personal income and to provide livelihood to two young men from the Mountain Province, Carlo Degasperi (focolarino from Italy) started a small workshop in Bangkal, Makati. Because their love could be felt in the quality of their work, many clients came to see them for repair of chairs, tables, beds and other woodworks.
Before long, they were already making new furniture. The demand for their services and work became numerous and there was a need to invite more young men to train and to work. The small workshop started to receive bigger job orders and so it was necessary to move several times to new locations, always with a bigger space than the last one.
In 1989, with a financial grant from an Italian NGO, a modern facility was built in a 3,680 square meter land in Cainta, Rizal owned by the Work of Mary or Focolare Movement for Men, Inc. On May 21, 1991 the late President Corazon C. Aquino, with the assistance of several officials from the Italian Embassy and the Papal Nunciature in the Philippines, inaugurated the new site of FCTC.
While the majority of the facility was dedicated to commercial manufacturing, enough space was dedicated to the activities of the training program. Two classrooms were built. There is also a dormitory for trainees coming from the provincial areas. There are also kitchen and dining facilities and some areas dedicated for recreation.
We are proud of our facilities that have basic industrial machineries that allow us to keep a high quality of output of our products. But beyond the skills that we have learned and transferred to many young men, we value most the relationships that we have built among co-workers, between mentors and trainees and with clients. This is our small contribution for the fulfillment of the last testament of Jesus – “That all may be ONE.”
Our Vision
To be a highly qualified community-based institution dedicated in training young men in the field of furniture carpentry, and in forming them in basic cultural and Christian values. An initiative that may contribute to the fulfillment of the last testament of Jesus:
“That all may be ONE.”
Our Mission
- To provide a training program in furniture carpentry that integrates basic cultural and Christian values, and develops young men into becoming concerned individuals and productive members of society.
- To provide this program, FREE, for out-of-school youth who are children of economically disadvantaged families.
- To provide an environment where all talents are used, where differences are recognized and resolved, where ideas and resources are generated.