The Philippine Association of University Women has developed a community outreach project in a depressed area of Manila. The project, "NEEDS (Nutrition, Education, Entrepreneurship and Development of Skills)" is intended to provide practical assistance and training to improve the quality of life of young people, women and the unemployed, and the elderly in order to help them cope with the demands of modern day life.

Trainers, who are members of PAUW, give courses on reading, writing, mathematics and livelihood and skills training. The income generation component of this project focuses on food preparation and handicrafts, giving many women the opportunity to acquire skills to start small businesses. Skills taught included: candle making, chocolate making, paper craft, food and snack preparation, cosmetology, and reflexology.

The educational component offers children basic reading, writing and arithmatic lessons, as well as some basic computer skills.  Simple nutrious snacks are provided for school drop-outs

Overall achievements in 2007 included 200 high school age students being tutored in science, mathematics and English; 750 mothers and young people participating in income-generation courses in soap making, cookery, jewellery making, perfum making and slipper making; 150 recipients of health care services and 1000 children benefiting from a special Christmas gift programme.