Hapinoy, a Philippine social enterprise, has trained more than 10,000 mom‑and‑pop store owners in artificial intelligence, moving closer to its goal of 12,000 participants in a regional program designed to expand AI skills among workers in underserved communities.
The organization was chosen as the local training partner for the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network’s AI Opportunity Fund: Asia‑Pacific, a three‑year initiative launched in 2024 to equip workers across the region with practical AI capabilities.
To deliver the program, Hapinoy completed a train‑the‑trainers course and received support from a philanthropic arm of a major technology company and a multilateral development bank, with total funding of $15 million.
Training sessions began in March 2025 and cover AI literacy, prompting techniques, ethical use, and practical business applications.
More than 90% of the over 10,000 participants are women, mirroring the composition of Hapinoy’s network of microentrepreneurs.
Generative AI is the most common use case, with participants creating posters and digitalizing records. Some use AI to design promotional materials, while others have launched new businesses, such as a printing venture started by a mother who learned design skills through the program.
Hapinoy’s membership exceeds 70,000 microentrepreneurs nationwide, mostly women. The organization expects to complete training for the remaining fewer than 2,000 participants by September.
In addition to AI training, Hapinoy offers financial and digital literacy programs. A recent caravan introduced nearly 300 participants to a chatbot that delivers interactive lessons on budgeting, savings, and business management through mobile conversations.
The caravan will continue across Metro Manila this year, providing learning sessions, networking opportunities, and access to digital tools to help improve businesses.
AI adoption remains limited among Philippine firms. A recent study found that only 14.9% of local companies use AI tools, with uptake concentrated among larger enterprises. Low adoption among micro, small and medium enterprises is attributed to limited awareness, skill shortages, and barriers to emerging technologies.
