We are committed to every possibility of sustainably developing the lives of our beneficiaries in our Manila Slum Program. This year, we tried something new—a savings training course! We started with our 13 Marytown mothers in a span of 11 sessions. It includes simple savings habit tips and motivation to keep saving consistently, even with just a peso every day.
Many families under the poverty line do not have access to financial literacy courses, possibly because they think they do not have enough money to “manage” anyway. But no matter what income bracket one is in, we believe that cultivating a strong savings habit is a crucial foundation for sustainability. It lessens the likelihood of them taking out loans in case of emergencies, which could be more expensive in the long run—worse, could harm them. It also shifts the mindset from dependence on aid and donations to one of ownership and self-reliance. Even the smallest savings help these mothers realize that they are capable of shaping their future.
In the training, we focused on the topic of bringing their families to this saving journey, too, like setting shared goals and dreaming together. The mothers were encouraged to decorate their own coin banks with simple yet personal designs, just enough to make it feel like it’s truly theirs. We also asked them to involve their kids by letting them draw pictures of their family and write down small dreams and big goals. The goal wasn’t just about saving money, but more importantly, it was about opening up conversations at home and planting seeds of hope in their homes.
In the next session, the room boomed with excitement from the mothers. They each shared the drawings and the stories from when they involved their kids. One of the mothers said that her family’s dream was to go to the mall—something they’ve never done together before. Another mom said something so touching, it stayed with all of us: she dreams of her family to eat together, at the same time, around one table.
These may seem like small things, but they’re deeply meaningful to these women. They’re about connection, dignity, and joy—the most fundamental things that every family deserves. It really was such a beautiful time to listen to them and see them dream together. Sessions like this help families in the slum take hopeful steps forward.
Throughout the program, we taught these mothers further about budgeting and saving. We provided examples and showed them practical tools to incorporate these lessons in their daily lives. We were surprised by how engaged the mothers were. We are aware about the sensitivity of money as a topic but they were surprisingly more open about these very personal details. They shared their income, talked about their budgets, and encouraged one another with ideas and feedback. More than just a class, it became a space of growth and support.
At the end of the training, we held a graduation ceremony for the mothers. All 13 of them completed all the sessions with perfect attendance! Not only did they attend all sessions, they were able to impart the positivity in their homes. That latter part alone is truly worth celebrating. Even with small steps, we are helping them find hope not only through knowledge, but with each other.
Our Partners
Be a Part of the Solution
We need 10 people or families each willing to donate USD 3,500 | AUD 5,000 per year for 3 years to start in a new community. Help us provide education and support to children and families in Manila’s slum communities.
With your support, we can stop the “slum story” with this generation of children.
