Aurelia's Story

"My children have suffered all the common illnesses-but I was lucky and they all survived. The education has been very helpful. I always use what I have learned to help my children." - Aurelia, the Philippines
Aurelia

The women of the Credit Association in Aurelia's village have formed a real community. They help one another in times of need, and inspire each other with their successes — Aurelia is so relieved to now be part of that support system.

"The other women in the [Credit with Education] 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 Canzo

Just a short time ago, however, her life was very different. Living in the Philippines, and barely making ends meet with five children to feed, she’d try to sell vegetables in the street day in and day out with no knowledge of how to expand her business or make a profit. She’d come home exhausted, having earned next to nothing.

When Credit with Education was first brought to her rural village on the large southern island of Mindanao, Aurelia thought she was too poor to join. But she would watch as other women received their loans and participated in learning sessions in a small house not far from where she would sit each day, waiting for customers.

Many of these women would stop and encourage Aurelia — promising to co-sign for her loan if she joined. They said she would learn things that would keep her children healthy and help her grow her business.

With this encouragement, she finally got up her courage, and signed up for the next training cycle. Her first loan was for $45, which she used to buy a better variety of vegetables to sell. With her next loan of $70, she was able to afford transportation to take her business to the city. She has just received her third loan of $96, and is setting up her very own store.

Like so many of the women we serve, Aurelia is motivated by the desire to give her children a better life than she experienced:

“I wish for my children that they will finish school and get good jobs so they do not have to work in the heat of the sun as I have done.”

With enough food to end their struggle with chronic hunger, Aurelia’s children are finally able to focus on school, and she can sleep soundly at night knowing that she has provided a better future for her family.

Please help other women overcome the daily fight for survival. By donating, you guarantee that another woman does not have to go home empty-handed to her hungry children.

Click here to read more Credit with Education success stories.