Qumume and her family, despite facing significant financial and health challenges, have found new hope through the Chicken Farming Program. Her husband’s chronic illness and a burdensome loan once made their future uncertain, but with the program’s support, they are beginning to turn things around. The healthy chicks they now raise are a symbol of new possibilities.
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When a woman is empowered, she will not fall into desperate measures to make money. Here at Captivating, we aim to protect women in vulnerable groups from sexual exploitation through entrepreneurship.
Our One Hope Microfinance Program has helped numerous mothers elevate their living standards and foster positive change. How does this work? We provide microloans starting at Php 6,000 (USD 106). After that, each beneficiary will become a part of a group where they shall commit to weekly payment and community building. The loans will increase with increments of Php 3,000 every after full payment with each loan payable for a maximum of 40 weeks. You can learn more about the project here.
Christina and her child in her sari-sari store[/caption]One of the mothers that we are helping is Cristina. Cristina is a mother of two who also manages her small sari-sari store—a kind of store in the Philippines that sells “sari-sari” (a variety) of products from snacks and candies to toiletries in small quantities. Her store seemed stable until a recent natural disaster in their neighborhood in Dinalupihan. Cristina wanted to keep her store open to cater to her neighbor’s needs, but the rain made it difficult for her to break even in sales. Despite that, she continued to show up each day and earned what she could to pay back her microloans. Through her dedication and effort, she was able to pay back her loans while also keeping PHP 3,000 (USD 53) in savings!
Her next goal is to continue saving to completely pay back all her loans and buy a refrigerator. A refrigerator in her sari-sari store can help her expand her products to cold drinks and frozen products. Cristina expressed her gratitude to Captivating International and its partner—Sanghaya Foundation, for supporting her business and giving her the chance to grow.
48 SHARESMany families in countries like Nepal are only one natural disaster away from extreme poverty. Since August 24, several areas in Nepal have been experiencing heavy rains and landslides in multiple locations. One of those areas is Lekharka, Shailung Rural Municipality, situated 3,000 meters above sea level. Its citizens had their homes destroyed by the rains, and local authorities reported that around 100 families and 27 homes were annihilated by the rains.
Aftermath of the landslides in Lekharka.[/caption]On September 21, our team at Captivating Nepal coordinated with local authorities and the NGO Federation of Nepal Kathmandu to respond quickly to the victims despite the risky travel due to terrible weather and high altitude. The situation was more dire when we got there: the whole area was swept away by landslides, and around 65 families were displaced with no temporary shelter. Moreover, there was no electricity or potable drinking water facility nearby. We cannot imagine how terrible the locals must have felt as the rains kept pouring weeks before.
The Director of Captivating Nepal distributes roofing sets to landslide victims and their families for temporary shelters.[/caption]We acted fast by helping residents move into an area approximately one hour away from their local community. We distributed roofing sets to 27 families and gave out relief goods to all those affected. We cannot stop these heavy rains from happening, but we can help safeguard the citizens from the dangers caused by natural disasters. These roofs are known to be durable so hopefully, they will withstand more rain in the future.
Just recently, we heard back from our partners that there was another heavy downpour during the last week of September through the first week of October. We are committed to helping this community so we are currently working on relief efforts to help the residents get back on their feet.
Local residents assist the response team in moving roofing sets for distribution.[/caption]
Locals with the response team.[/caption]19 SHARESOur Manila Slum Program (MSP) helps alleviate poverty by supporting the schooling of children from vulnerable communities in Manila. Sometimes when we visit communities, the children themselves make it known that they need our help—one of those children is Aryana.
We first met her while conducting a house-to-house survey in Marytown. She stayed in a dark alleyway and silently listened as we interviewed mothers from one house to another. One of the mothers was aware of her shyness and hesitance to approach us, so she insisted that we let Aryana join the program. When we saw and acknowledged her presence, Aryana happily joined our interview team and guided us through the narrow alleyways in their neighborhood—just like a free tour guide! She led us to her home where we interviewed her grandmother to help her become an official part of our list.
Aryana smiling by their store[/caption]Now that Aryana is one of our beneficiaries, she will receive a monthly allowance. Her parents shall also attend our awareness seminars that cover important topics like Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) online safety, and other responsible parenting seminars to ensure that Aryana is properly looked after.
The recent disbursement allowed us to talk to Aryana’s grandmother again. She shared that she is so grateful that Aryana is part of our program since both of her parents are jobless. Through our assistance, the grandmother was able to enroll her in fifth grade, and buy her uniform and some school supplies. Both Aryana and her grandmother are so excited for her schooling! Because of our help, they no longer worry about food and transportation costs. All Aryana must think about is how to do better in school.
Staff member interviewing Aryana and her grandmother by their store[/caption]When we were in Marytown, we could not help but notice how young children were just left alone in the streets without adult supervision like Aryana. We are delighted to ease lives like hers, yet there is still a long way to go in our mission to alleviate poverty. We hope that next time, we can find these other children’s parents and provide them with the help that they need. For now, we are rooting for Aryana and the bright future ahead of her.
40 SHARESTil Maya Bhujel (38) used to live in the unnecessary shame of being a widow in a Nepalese village. In 2010, her husband lost his life through electrocution as he was working as an electrician. They did not have kids, and the loss of her life partner was harrowing for her. She lost her motivation to live life and even abandoned her farm work, which was her main source of income. She thought there was no way out of her misery until she found a little glimmer of hope that life is worth living through tailoring.
She started her tailoring business in a small rented space in Pokhara where she lived alone. During the pandemic, she underwent what most business owners struggled with: rising costs, logistical limitations, and dwindling customer base. She found it difficult to keep a steady income stream, especially with the economy of a poor country like Nepal.
Til Maya Bhujel sitting in her shop at Pokhara[/caption]When she heard about the My Business-My Freedom Microfinance Program (MBMF), she immediately wanted to become a part of a women’s group. She joined and got her first loan of NPR 50,000 (USD 373) and used it to work on her business. She successfully repaid her loan after a year before getting a second loan of NPR 60,000 (USD 447). Right now, Til Maya is on track in paying her loans through installments.
Til Maya’s story is not only a story of improving one’s financial standing, but it is also a story of a person acquiring the courage to see beauty in life a second time. It was a way to show her that there are more wonderful things in life, and that her women’s group is a community that has her back when she needs help.
We could never imagine the grief that she experienced, but the least that our program could do was give people a chance to improve their lives, or in her case—bring back her zest for it.
Another view of Til Maya's store[/caption]
59 SHARESAs part of our ongoing partnership with the Olongapo City police for their Bisita Turo Program (Police Community Teaching Program), we hosted an Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) seminar.
41 SHARESEvery year, hundreds of students in Nepal are compelled to leave school due to their family conditions. According to statistics, 4.8% of students in Nepal still leave school each year.
21 SHARESThe local leaders in Loyola Heights recently organized a Youth Summit to support the newly established youth organization in the area.
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