Helping Hard Work Pay Off

When Vivian was growing up, education, especially higher education, was something out of reach. In rural communities in the Philippines like Vivian’s, only around 30% of the population completes the equivalent of a high school education. Vivian did join the minority of high school graduates; her husband, Jesse, was only able to make it through second grade before the demands of work and survival took precedence.

Through hard work, Vivian and Jesse overcame many of the setbacks associated with a lower level of education. Vivian was able to make a decent living running a small sari-sari store (similar to a neighborhood convenience store or bodega), and Jesse worked as a bus driver in a nearby city.

Together, they raised four children in a loving home. Supported by an area Feed the Children program providing supplemental feeding for children under the age of two, Vivian never worried about malnutrition or stunting. The family was happy, and life overall was good. There was only one thing that Vivian truly wanted that was missing: the chance for her children to receive the higher education she had missed out on. She had always wondered: what new doors might it open for them?

When it came time to start sending their children to school, Vivian and Jesse began to look at ways to save up enough money. The parents wanted to make sure their kids would have the supplies they needed, as well as money for tuition if any of them decided to pursue a higher education.

Part of the problem for Vivian that there are no banks in the remote, rural community where she and her family live. She wanted to save and manage her money, but had no structured way to do as much. So, Vivian turned to a different Feed the Children program: the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) group.

A VSLA is an alternative to a bank, for individuals who don’t have access to a traditional financial institute or qualify for a loan there. A small group of individuals from the same community join together to create a pool of funds into which all parties regularly contribute money. Members can take out loans as needed.

The financial boost from the VSLA proved invaluable. It enabled Vivian to reinvest in her store, increasing her earnings. And when she needed additional cash, she took out loans from the VSLA. This allowed her to finance her children’s education, and as they excelled academically Vivian got to watch her dreams come true!

“My eldest daughter’s achievements fill me with pride: she graduated cum laude from a state university and passed the Criminology board exam,” Vivian says, beaming. She also shares a message of hope for other parents in her situation: “Being poor is not a reason we can’t send our children to school. All we have to do is find ways to address the problem.”

Thanks to your support, Vivian was able to make sure her hard work – and her children’s work in school – paid off! The new opportunities they have unlocked will help them break the cycle of poverty, and go on to accomplish even greater dreams.