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ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is a collection o more than 7000 islands in Southeast Asia. These islands are

divided into three major groupings: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The busy port o Manila,

located on Luzon, is the nations capital and the second largest city ater Quezon City.

With beautiul rees, riendly locals and tasty local are, the Philippines is slowly climbing its

way out o a violence-marred image to attract a growing number o visitors. It aspires to be

an industrialised country and is making some headway due to rapid urbanisation.

However, the economy is still largely based around agriculture due to the countrys rich soil

and largely rural population. Despite economic growth, rural and urban areas are riddled

with pockets o poor communities. A number o rural communities are also clustered in the

midst o fghting between rebels and government troops. TEAR Fund is working in several

regions to address these problems.

TEAR FUND IN THE PHILIPPINES

About 30 per cent o the population in the Philippines is poor. Those trapped in the cycle o

poverty are born into amilies that lack the resources to send their children to school, or provide

or their basic nutritional needs

TEAR Fund has been partnering with a microenterprise agency in the Philippines, the Centre or

Community Transormation (CCT), to change this. Microenterprise loans and accountability

structures enable hardworking people to grow their businesses into economic engines that

generate income to provide lie-essentials such as ood, housing, basic health care and the hope

or a brighter uture.

CCT operates through Microenterprise to empower poor communities to use marketeconomics to rise above poverty. A small injection o capital breaks this cycle o poverty enabling,

amilies to work their way out o poverty with dignity. This not only improves the circumstances

o the micro entrepreneurs but their business can also provide jobs and business opportunities

or others in the community. CCT recognises that Microenterprise services are not enough and

have to go hand-in hand with instilling good values and strengthening the community.

CCTs vision is to see Christ-centred aith communities where Jesus Christ is honoured and

worshipped and where people live with dignity and sufciency. CCT currently extends small

business loans to more than 72,000 poor women entrepreneurs. Their overall outreach now

encompasses 130,000 amilies.

CCT has also established more than 5,000 ellowship groups where members meet to worship

and pray, study the bible, repay their loans, learn about doing business and support one another.

CCT partners with 155 local churches that adopt poor amilies and support them as they work

their way out o poverty.

Microenterprise Development Changing Lives

PhiliPPines

Call to donate: 0800 800 777 or visit www.tearfund.org.nz

QUICK FACTS

Full name:Republic of the Philippines

Population:88,574,614 (2007 census)

Capital and largest city:Manila, Quezon City

Area:

300,000 sq km, 115,831 sq miles

Major languages:Filipino, English and eight major regionaldialects

Major religion:Christian (90% - Roman Catholic 81%)Muslim (5%)

Life expectancy:67 years (men), 73 years (women)

Main exports:Semiconductors and electronic products,transport equipment, garments, copperproducts, petroleum products, coconutoil, fruits.

Human Development Index (HDI): 90

8/7/2019 Philippines Microenterprise Project - Tearfund New Zealand

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National Ofce:

PO Box 8315, Symonds St,

Auckland 1150

New Zealand

Freephone: 0800 800 777

Facsimile: (09) 629 1050

Email: enquiries@tearfund.org.nz

Website: www.tearfund.org.nz

CONTACTS:

way to work. Later I will join eight o my riends on one tricycle or

the trip to school. I havent been going to school long. It is only since

my mother started a sewing business that there has been money or

the books. My mother always liked to sew. Along with some riends

she received a loan o $240 to buy two second-hand sewing machines

and abric. They have started businesses.

They plan to take another loan to buy an over-locker.

Now we have resh vegetables, chicken and fsh with the rice that myather grows. I eel stronger each day and not so tired. When I grow

up I will have to leave the arm because its too small to split with my

sisters. I can go to school and I have a chance to go to college and get

a good job. We used to get sick a lot, but now our mother gives us

medicine. I havent missed one day o school!

My mother takes us to church. It is just across the road. We did not

used to go to church because she didnt think it was important and

she was ashamed o our old clothes. I know God doesnt want us to

be poor. Every day I thank Him or what He has done or us!

COUNTRY PROFILES

MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

TEAR Fund partners with indigenous Christian organisations to help the poor create

income generation opportunities.

A air credit loan empowers the poor to create a business to help them work their wayout o poverty. It releases them rom relying on unscrupulous loan sharks who charge

crippling interest rates and encourages them to be sel-sufcient rather than rely on aid.

Loan applicants meet specifc criteria and are trained to help them improve and grow

their businesses.

With no welare systems and ew jobs available, small businesses are an essential part o

the economy. Behind each business there is an extended amily, employees, suppliers and

customers who beneft.

About 98 per cent o loans are repaid and the money is recycled back into the community

so others can be given the opportunity to realise their dreams.

TEAR Fund Microenterprise Development puts ood on the table or tens

o thousands o children throughout the developing wor ld. Poor children

who struggle to survive also have the thrill o watching their amilies lives

and ortunes change when their parents get the opportunity to start a

start a small business and establish a regular income. A young boy whose

mother received a loan rom TEAR Funds Philippines partner - the Centre

or Community Transormation (CCT) - tells his stor y:

IN MY OWN WORDSAt 4 a.m the rooster wakes. My three-week old puppy, which is always

crying, probably woke him up. Long beore it is light, I start my jobs. First

I sweep the yard, and then I splash water rom the canal on the dirt road

outside the house to keep the dust down. Beore school I take the ducks

rom the arm next door to eed on what the rice harvesters let in the

felds. When I whistle to the leader, it will lead the thousand or so ducks

back to their enclosure.

By 5am the tricycles (motorbike taxis with sidecars) will come tinkling

down the road with passengers grabbing a ew moments o rest on the

Microenterprise Development Changing Lives

A CHILDS EYE VIEw OF MICROENTERPRISE