Monday April 11

James grew up in a cassava farming family in the Volta Region in eastern Ghana. In his late teens, he struggled to complete the required exams to move on past secondary school.

Read More

Monday April 11

Angela Sermite lives in Iloilo in the Philippines and has 11 children. Her two eldest sons work and each contribute PHP 3,000 (approximately $70) to the family’s expenses each month. The Sermite family farm half a hectare of land growing a range of crops including rice, corn and peanuts. They earn an annual income of around PHP 46,000 (approximately $1,060).

Read More

Tuesday April 5

Maria Elipio and her husband Carlos used to run a fish business. They bought fish from a local port and then sold them at their town market. Having received a loan of PHP 10,000 (approximately $230) from Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI) which they invested into the business, they made around PHP 2,000 (approximately $45) per day.

Read More

Tuesday April 5

Victoria Tabalanza runs a small Sari-sari store earning around PHP 1,000 (approximately $23) a day. Her family also rents a quarter of a hectare of land which they use for growing rice and raising pigs. Victoria is a member of Opportunity Kauswagan Bank (OKBI), a microfinance institution which provided a loan for her to cultivate their land.

Read More

Monday April 4

Herminia Matin runs a small Sari-sari store in Iloilo in the Philippines. In 2009 her husband Genane collapsed unexpectedly and was rushed to hospital. He was admitted for a urinary tract infection and remained in hospital for three days at a cost of PHP 15,000 (approximately $345). Unfortunately his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a specialist hospital where he was admitted for a further six days at a cost of PHP 17,000 (approximately $395). Genane returned to work as a bus driver however several months later he was rushed to hospital for a second time.

Read More