The One Hope Microfinance Program‘s main mission is to protect vulnerable women from the threat of sexual exploitation by providing loans for sustainable micro-entrepreneurship. With the help of our local partner, Sanghaya Foundation, we provide small business loans starting at PHP 6,000. Over the years, it has helped many mothers increase their earning potential and quality of life. One of those is Maylin.
Life comes in seasons, and some losses. Just last year, Maylin’s youngest child passed away, leaving her with her two other children. Even as a mourning mother, she still needed to look after her other kids. As a Filipino adage says, “Hindi naman tumitigil ang ikot ng mundo.” (The world does not stop spinning around.)
When we visited her in Bataan, we witnessed how her business continued to progress. She still operates in the same location as before, but we noticed more variations in the food she serves. From originally serving pares (Filipino beef soup) and silog meals (Filipino breakfast with rice, egg, and a choice of meat), she now offers a lot more ulam (viands) and is open 24 hours, thanks to her family’s support.
One of Maylin’s store’s advantages is its location. Even late at night, their store remains busy until early in the morning. Their clientele includes tricycle and truck drivers who stop by for a warm and delicious meal. Maylin needed to employ some of her trusted relatives to take shifts at the store. This way, she is helping them support their own families as well.
More than her hard work and consistency, Maylin’s success is also attributed to her strictness in enforcing her rules. She never normalizes debt in her store, whether from customers or her employees. She believes that by managing her income wisely and keeping her operations stable, she will avoid a lot of stressful events in the future.
Seeing Maylin do well despite her grief, we are grateful to witness her perseverance and steady growth as she continues building a more secure future for her family.
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Support the One Hope Microfinance Program and help provide mothers with the resources they need to build a better future for their children.
USD270 | AUD 385 starts another woman on her poverty-free journey.
Be her hope.
