Have Impact !

One of our new entrepreneur groups: The Por Una Vida Digna Group in Peru

“Por Una Vida Digna” is a group of ten people who have been investing in some type of business since six years. Mrs. Benedicta Serrano, for example, makes and sells variously flavored yoghurts according to her customers’ wishes. She also sells various fruit nectars.
She has a lot of demand so the funds she receives will be used to buy an ice chest. She is a very active group member and, because of that, she was selected to be the group president.
As a dance teacher, Elsa Dávalos, noticed renting costumes could be a profitable enterprise so she began to make them herself and then rent them to her students. This work has given her much satisfaction.
The other group members have different lines of work to which they are dedicated with much enthusiasm and effort because one of their most important objectives is to provide their families with sustenance and good education.

We allocated a loan of US$50 to the “The Por Una Vida Digna”, as one of our 44 new loans. In this loan trench, I concentrated on:

1. Groups of entrepreneurs, led by women, or with a majority of women; or
2. Entrepreneurs working in agriculture by either growing a crop or raising animals; or
3. Entrepreneurs in South America.

I allocated a total of US$1,775 in loans to entrepreneurs in Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Cambodia, Philippines and Nicaragua. This amount was the total repayment of previous loans, which I received during the month of December.

Here is the full list of the new loans:

• Las Cumbeñitas Group in Ecuador: $50
• Tol Sok Village Group in Cambodia: $50
• Beverlyn Solito in Philippines: $25
• Cruz Velasquez in Nicaragua: $25
• Fely Bautista in Philippines: $25
• Yein Phang in Cambodia: $25
• Enriquita Cerbas in Philippines: $25
• Evelyn Diaz in Philippines: $25
• Margarita Irabon in Philippines: $25
• Chhom Meas’ Group in Cambodia: $50
• Pao Pech Village Group in Cambodia: $50
• Saroem Moul Village Group in Cambodia: $50
• Lydia Perangco in Philippines: $25
• Arlyn Bajenting in Philippines: $25
• Yeu Soem Village Group in Cambodia: $50
• Roath Sao Village Group in Cambodia: $50
• Mao Lerb Village Group in Cambodia: $50
• Toeurn Loch Village Group in Cambodia: $50
• Goun Touch Group in Cambodia: $50
• Savon Khun Group in cambodia: $50
• Thach Pen Group in Cambodia: $50
• Seu Suon Group in Cambodia: $50
• Mey Loem in Cambodia: $25
• Oeurn Suong Group in Cambodia: $50
• Chea Nun Group in Cambodia: $50
• Sokhorn Chham Group in Cambodia: $50
• Thoeun Pin Group in Cambodia: $50
• Sopheap Srey Group in Cambodia: $50
• Alejandrina in Peru: $25
• Norma Ruth in Bolivia: $25
• Qorimakis Group in Peru: $50
• Papa Paulo Group in Bolivia: $50
• Esther in Peru: $25
• Las Triunfadoras in Ecuador: $50
• Maripositas Group in Bolivia: $50
• Alternativa Group in Bolivia: $50
• 10 De Noviembre Ii Group in Bolivia: $50
• Mujeres Anfitrionas Group in Paraguay: $50
• Por Una Vida Digna Group in Peru: $50
• Victorina Aranda in Paraguay: $50
• Rosas De Bautista Group in Bolivia: $50
• Virgen De Fatima Group in Bolivia: $50
• Piedad Escaleras in Ecuador: $25
• Janneth Marlene Narvaez Luna in Ecuador: $25

Fe Erma Aragones lost her fish pond in Typhoon Ondoy

Fe Erma Aragones lives with her husband Biato Aragones and their three children Emilio, Ana Marie and Angelica in Binangonan, a village in the North of the Philippines province of Rizal. She says their children, and their new grandchildren are really their blessing and the reason they strive hard to fight against poverty.  Because of their work, all of their children could graduate from college, and found work now.

Fe and Biato have a fish pond in the sea. When Typhoon Ondoy entered Rizal, their fish pond was damaged. The level of water in the sea got that high all the fish inside the fish pond were lost. They wanted to repair the fish pond and expand it. They also needed new funds to buy fishlings they can raise until it is ready for harvest.

Fe asked for a loan of US$950, repayable over 14 months. We allocated a loan of US$25 to her, as part of our project to help microfinance entrepreneurs in the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam recovering from the recent typhoons.

Over the past month, we allocated $1,825 to this project. Friends from The Road’s lending team contributed another US$730, bringing the total of new loans after the typhoons to US$6,055. This matches the total amount we raised through this post.

The project balance:

The microfinance loans I allocated this month:

• Merlie Heyrana in Philippines: $25
• Myrna Guidaben in Philippines: $25
• Genevieve Caipang in Philippines: $25
• Elma Mangubat in Philippines: $25
• Juanita Tare in Philippines: $25
• Marcela Mahilum in Philippines: $25
• Melinda Candelaria in Philippines: $25
• Fe Erma Aragones in Philippines: $25
• Rudy Salvo in Philippines: $25
• Roselie Curato in Philippines: $25
• Gloria Concon in Philippines: $25
• Virginia Alejandro in Philippines: $25
• Rechel Banca in Philippines: $25
• Rosalita Petalcorin in Philippines: $25
• Magdalena Pabatang in Philippines: $25
• Romeo Giganto in Philippines: $50
• Eniseria Pepito in Philippines: $50
• Angelina Consigo in Philippines: $50
• Tita Compo in Philippines: $25
• Feliciana Omandam in Philippines: $25
• Salvacion Ido in Philippines: $25
• Marites Pahayac in Philippines: $25
• Nancy Cernero in Philippines: $25
• Elizabeth Medina in Philippines: $25
• Lolita Cerezola in Philippines: $25
• Riza Misa in Philippines: $25
• Nida Oculam in Philippines: $25
• Domeciano Sabares in Philippines: $25
• Thelma Tagactac in Philippines: $25
• Daisy Jordan in Philippines: $25
• Elizabeth Proctan in Philippines: $25
• Lina Albios in Philippines: $25
• Jocelyn Latoga in Philippines: $25
• Brayan Baguio in Philippines: $25
• Charlie Labtang in Philippines: $25
• Teresita Magallanes in Philippines: $25
• Maria Fe Roxas in Philippines: $25
• Dorotea Gallegos in Philippines: $25
• Rim Meak Group in Cambodia: $100
• Rim Seam Group in Cambodia: $100
• Tean Y Peng Group in Cambodia: $100
• Sokha Hin Group in Cambodia: $100
• Saream Sruon Group in Cambodia: $100
• Phalla Sok Group in Cambodia: $100
• Vanna Huy Group in Cambodia: $100
• Sophoen Morm Group in Cambodia: $100

Roberto Doroni in the Philippines needed more farming supplies

After typhoons Ketsana and Parma hit the Philippines, 7 million people were affected. we started a fundraiser and advocacy campaign here on “Have Impact!”, which generated more than 1,000 comments. I promised to raise $5 per comment, for micro finance loans to entrepreneurs in the Philippines so people could get their lives back on track, and restart if need be.

As part of this project, we have issued quite a few loans to people already. Roberto Doroni was one of them. He lives in Pangal Norte – Echague with his wife and two children. Farming is his main income, and he was looking for a loan of $325 to invest in more farming supplies so he could increase his crop yield.
We issued him a loan of $50, to be repaid over 7 months.

Here is the list of all 42 loans we have have issued over the past four days:

• Maria Bosi in Philippines: $50
• Liza Maquiling in Philippines: $50
• Aireen Miraran in Philippines: $50
• Benigna Torremocha in Philippines: $50
• Norwina Cabato in Philippines: $50
• Restie Cenabre in Philippines: $50
• Rosalinda Comidoy in Philippines: $50
• Ruth Ann Pascual in Philippines: $50
• Bernadette Labad in Philippines: $25
• Evangelista Vitalez in Philippines: $25
• Ligaya Dela Torre in Philippines: $25
• Danilo Galendez in Philippines: $50
• Maria’s family in Philippines: $25
• Lucena Cabansay in Philippines: $25
• Merlina Castillejos in Philippines: $25
• Luz Fermin in Philippines: $25
• Fe Lim in Philippines: $25
• Helen Mendez in Philippines: $25
• Helen Fortaliza in Philippines: $25
• Bonifacio Sanchez in Philippines: $25
• Asuncion Iquin in Philippines: $25
• Lolita Viajidor in Philippines: $25
• Azel Apiado in Philippines: $25
• Aida Suyu in Philippines: $25
• Lolita Padogdog in Philippines: $25
• Concepcion Elcarte in Philippines: $25
• Maria Eloisa Laranjo in Philippines: $25
• Gonzala Magalona in Philippines: $25
• Nemesiana Lagrosa in Philippines: $25
• Nancy Leones in Philippines: $50
• Eudisa Belloc in Philippines: $50
• Jennlyn Ely in Philippines: $50
• Diosa Bacala in Philippines: $50
• Aireen Miraran in Philippines: $50
• Erlinda Rodriguez in Philippines: $50
• Maribeth Gulocan in Philippines: $50
• Nenita Tura in Philippines: $50
• Remedios Marzo in Philippines: $50
• Josephine Ventoso in Philippines: $50
• Adelaida Montes in Philippines: $50
• Marilou Cagatin in Philippines: $50
• Roberto Doroni in Philippines: $50

Apart from the loans I issued, many others have joined forces with us. members of our Kiva Lenders team issued over 2,000 US$ of loans just in the past week. Well done all!

Felicino Sara in the Philippines

In our team effort to raise microfinance loans for the Philippines, which were hard hit by the recent typhoons, we are raising $5 per comment left on our kickoff post. Our action runs until October 31.

Apart from fundraising, we continue to allocate new loans to entrepreneurs in the Philippines who will use the funds to revive and expand their livelihood.

Diane, one of our Kiva Lenders’ team, stepped forward and helped me out. She already allocated 25 loans for a total of $625 for this project. She committed to “buy” up to 200 comments on the post I mentioned before.

My Friend “E”, donated $300 to “buy” 60 comments, loans allocated in this post.

Elizabeth, a colleague and friend, who is also member of our Kiva team, donated $100, and as such “bought” 20 comments. Her loans are allocated in this post.

I donated $300, buying 60 comments, for 6 loans.

Our Philippines project has now allocated $1,325 already.

The most recent loan went to Felicino Sara in Trento, Agusan Del Sur, in the Philippines. Felicino is 58 years old and farms a small rice field a short distance away from his village. He hopes the farm will help him supply his family with the food, clothes and other basic things they need. He constantly attempts to surpass the size of his previous harvest.

He needed a loan of $175, refundable over 7 months, as an additional capital for his business. The loan will help him sustain his livelihood until the next harvest.

As small stake holder farmers are the “engine” of the economy in a country like the Philippines, we gave him a loan of US$50.

The loans we allocated in the past two days:

• Martina Acosta in Philippines: $50
• Irvy Bation in Philippines: $50
• Luzviminda Acio in Philippines: $50
• Mary Ann Campos in Philippines: $50
• Felicino Sara in Philippines: $50
• Marionito Abesia in Philippines: $50
• Edmar Ortega in Philippines: $50
• Roger Ermita in Philippines: $50