Our Blog: Seng Girls

PHILIPPINES

Aryana, Our Free Tour Guide, Wants to Join MSP

Our 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.




[caption id="attachment_25346" align="aligncenter" width="225"]Girl smiling and sitting by a small store in a dark alley 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.




[caption id="attachment_25343" align="aligncenter" width="300"]One staff member interviewing Aryana and her grandmother by their store 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.


 




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MY BUSINESS - MY FREEDOM

Til Maya Bhujel’s Newfound Zest For Life

Til 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.




[caption id="attachment_25337" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Til Maya Bhujel sitting in her shop at Pokhara 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.




[caption id="attachment_25338" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Til Maya Bhujel in her shop at Pokhara Another view of Til Maya's store[/caption]

 




WE NEED YOUR HELP

Help stabilize Nepali women with a small business loan. Your donation of US$200 will go a long way. Click on the links below to learn more.

   

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