Virtual Tours Our Work in Philippines

The integration of microfinance with education is changing the lives of thousands and thousands of families in the Philippines. Given the opportunity to improve their lives, women living in poor, rural areas of the Philippines are seizing these self-help tools and transforming their prospects for the future.

Leadership and a Commitment to Improving Lives

Credit with Education is thriving in the Philippines like nowhere else. Freedom from Hunger’s Filipino partners are committed to expansion and ensuring very high-quality services to rural women, who are natural entrepreneurs and eager to learn.

In 1998, Freedom from Hunger launched its partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) to implement Credit with Education on the southern island of Mindanao. Credit with Education is a part of WOCCU’s CUES (Credit Union Empowerment and Strengthening) network, a group of credit cooperatives that serves groups of women living in rural areas. This program has reached maturity in terms of covering its costs and expanding independently. CUES continues to expand its program to thousands more women in ever more rural areas.

In 2000, Freedom from Hunger launched its second partnership with CARD (The Center for Agriculture and Rural Development), a nongovernmental organization whose mission is to build a sustainable financial institution owned, managed and controlled by landless rural women. CARD serves women on the northern island of Luzon.

CARD has become one of Freedom from Hunger’s closest collaborators, not just in implementing Credit with Education but also as a partner in impact studies, innovation and a commitment to training other organizations how to implement integrated microfinance and health education services to rural participants.

CARD is also one of our partners in the Microfinance and Health Protection Initiative (MAHP). Starting with surveying women about what services they wanted most, Freedom from Hunger and CARD developed a package of services that correspond to those needs. In one package, CARD is establishing linkages to local health care providers so its members receive discounts on primary care services and CARD is working to lower the cost of the most common medicines. Freedom from Hunger is also helping CARD develop two new health education modules, one on how to save money for health care and how to manage large medical costs, and the second on dengue fever, an all too-common illness that strikes often—and with devastating effects—in this tropical country. Learn more about MAHP.

You can learn more about CARD by visiting our Partner Profiles.

One Woman's Story

Aurelia Canzo initially thought she was too poor to join Credit with Education. She came to town each day to sell vegetables on the street--an enterprise that earned her a little money to help feed her children. Once a week she saw women in her village on their way to the meeting. On their way, they would stop and encourage her to join. They told her they would co-sign for her loan and said she would learn things that would keep her children healthy and help her grow her business. Aurelia finally summoned the courage to ask if she could participate in the next loan cycle.

Her first loan was for US$45. She used it to buy a better variety of vegetables to attract customers. The second loan she took was for US$70. She used some of that to take jeepneys into town and sell vegetables in larger quantities. During the following loan cycle, Aurelia borrowed US$96. She is proud of her progress.

"I don't want to have to sit on the street to sell my vegetables anymore. During the rainy season, customers do not come. That is why I would like to have a store--for their shelter and mine. I think I am becoming a smarter businesswoman."

Aurelia says she is so glad the other women encouraged her to join. "I'm very proud to be a part of my Credit Association. The other women in the group are kind and helpful to each other. For instance, one of our members just lost her husband. Today we are all contributing a small amount to the family to help them through this terrible time."

Aurelia's dreams are also for a brighter future for her children: "I work hard every day to help them. They should have a chance for something better."

To meet more Credit with Education participants in the Philippines and to see other photos, visit our Philippines Photo Gallery.