Livelihood

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Building Sustainable Communities

When families have sustainable sources of income, they gain the capability to support the most basic needs of their children. World Vision’s BEStApproTech (Building Entrepreneurial Skills through Appropriate Technology) approach is an economic development intervention that equips parents and guardians with necessary knowledge, skills, and livelihood opportunities so they can provide for their families and build sustainable communities for the next generation.

To help the poorest of the poor families in the areas we serve, World Vision distributed agricultural inputs and assets like rice, corn, vegetable seeds, basic garden tools and small animals (poultry and piglets) as well as provision of technical training on Organic Agriculture in partnership with local government units (LGUs). As part of our Local Value Chain Development (LVCD) program, we also conducted entrepreneurial trainings to 2,383 community members, and helped 2,630 households establish group and individual small businesses capacitated to access and operate in the marketplace.

Aside from agricultural and entrepreneurial support, World Vision offers trainings that would help community members enhance their financial literacy and financial management. For instance, our Community-Managed Savings and Credit Association (CoMSCA) program continues to benefit more than 61,655 members through savings generation and loan availment.

THE JOY OF SELF-RELIANCE

Despite numerous challenges, Edmar and his family found hope when he became a sponsored child. Edmar not only received school supplies, his parents also benefited from livelihood trainings, which helped build their income. Through World Vision, Edmar’s mom received a livelihood starter kit and learned how to make puto, a steamed rice cake served for snacks.
“My favorite part of being a sponsored child is joining several trainings that empowered me to think, speak, and mingle with different people,” Edmar shares. “I still use the skills I got from these trainings to grow my small business.” READ FULL STORY

Livelihood for every family in a community means to increase income that translates to food, education, healthcare, and asset creation. Our work includes increasing the capacities of families so that they can support the basic needs of their children in the long term.

Livelihood
We help increase productivity on agri-fishery by promoting natural farming
Livelihood
We invest in the economic resilience of parents and caregivers by providing financial training
Livelihood
We support increased engagement of producers to markets, service providers and relevant stakeholders

Projects:

  • Community Managed Savings and Credit Association (CoMSCA) builds the economic resilience and financial literacy of households through the mobilization of self-help mechanisms on savings and credit services.
  • Natural Farming System promotes increase in farm productivity by being anchored on natural ways to care for the soil and crops.
  • Local Value Chain Development links farmers and producers to markets by closely collaborating with market players supporting enterprises and industries.
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Testimonials

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“Every time I get a letter from the children, natutuwa ako kasi I see their progress. I don’t want them to miss their right to education just because of poverty. I promised that for each achievement I get, I will celebrate by adding more sponsored children. For my fellow OFWs, it is never too late to help. We are given the privilege to earn more. Maybe that “more” is given to you because you are asked to share them with others. A blessing is not a blessing unless you share it.”

-Joanne Rico, World Vision child sponsor

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“One thing that really made me committed [to my sponsored children] is knowing that God does not change His mind when He blesses me, so if He is consistent, what is stopping me from being the same? No one has ever become poor by sharing and giving. I have always felt that I have more than enough and the little amount I can share with a child or two would certainly make a big difference in their lives.”

-Melizza Guiao, World Vision child sponsor

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“I prayed to God to let me be an instrument of love. It really matters that we give what we have and that we support children, their families and communities; that we do not give up on their dreams. Iba ‘yung tumulong tayo sa hindi natin kakilala kasi alam natin na it’s the goodness of the Lord leading us to help these people.”

-Florian Torres, World Vision child sponsor

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“I needed to think less of myself and see where I could give. We always complain about certain things we aren’t happy about in the Philippines. Education for everyone is really something that I can contribute to and not just complain about. It’s my responsibility as a citizen of the Philippines, as a Christian, to share, to return what I feel God has blessed me with or what I feel that my country has given me. The most fulfilling for me would be the times I got a letter from my child. Actually the first time I got a letter, I cried. I was surprised by the emotion it brought out in me.”

-Elyse Pilapil, World Vision child sponsor

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An officer who rose from the ranks and life of  poverty

He is a high-ranking officer of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)- a picture of distinction, confidence and discipline. As the official PCG spokesperson, you may have seen him on television warning the public on an impending danger or calming them after a tragic incident on the Philippine shores.

He is Commander Arman Balilo: a former World Vision sponsored child.

Arman grew up in the slums of Caloocan City, where poverty and misery was the norm. Right after school, he would sell rice cakes to help put food on the table. On other days, he would sell quail eggs and newspapers near the local high school. “Pag di pa kasya yung kinita ko para makakain kaming pamilya, maghahanap pa ako ng scrap gaya ng bote at metal para maibenta ko, pandagdag sa kita,” Arman shares with World Vision.

Arman also recalled the days he would go to Sunday School, “I would attend class shirtless, my face laced with mud. But one day, during what probably was the darkest time in my life, I came across World Vision. Nilapitan ako ng isang WV project staff, inimbita niya kami ng mother ko to know what World Vision is all about, what it can do to help me and my family. I eventually joined the WV Child Sponsorship Program and to make a long story short, it changed my life.”

Suddenly he had opportunity. But Arman knew it wouldn’t be easy. He had to walk some 10 kilometers to and from his high school. Every single day. “Getting to school ws the least of my concerns. While my classmates never had to worry, I couldn’t even afford to buy a single piece of bond paper or find a working typewriter for school projects.”

In college, as his friends partied and splurged on fun and food, Arman had to do with bread and instant noodles during lunch breaks. Instead of giving up, it made Arman even more determined to keep his grades up and earn a college degree. He knew that education was his ticket to a better life.

Today, Commander Armando Balilo a public servant and an inspiration to his loved ones and former poor community,  is blessed with a loving wife and two beautiful daughters. He is also currently sponsoring two children from Palawan.

-Cdr. Armand Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard