Elizabeth Cerda

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Elizabeth Cerda by Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. (ASHI) in Philippines. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the 11 months of this loan, Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. (ASHI) will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

After the entrance of Typhoon Ondoy to the area of the Philippines which caused a big damage to a hundred thousand people, Kiva field partner Ahon sa Hirap Inc. (ASHI) visited all their member living in the place where ravaged by Typhoon Ondoy. It is the place like Rizal and Laguna. Most of the member living there is really affected by what happen. Some of them lost their houses because of flood, lost their means of living, and worst lost one or more member of their family. If you see by your own eyes the situation there of the people you could tell to yourself at that time that I’m a lucky one and you really feel sorry for them, you might think that if there’s anything you can do just to help them. ASHI lend a helping hand for them in a little way like giving food which is what they really needed by now.

One of this is the family of Elizabeth Cerda. As the time of visit of ASHI in their place their house is still flooded. They never leave their house because aside from they don’t want to abandon the house she and her family there’s no place to go. That’s why at that moment they really need food especially her three little children. And the thing that Elizabeth is crying for is that her business which is fishing is really damage by the Typhoon Ondoy. Their fish cage is broke by the big waves and strong wind in the sea. The sad part on it is all the loan that she received from ASHI is used in expanding the fish cage. All their money and effort spend on it are all wasted. Now Elizabeth and her family really don’t know where to start in order to survive. But Elizabeth never lose hope, she is sure that God will guide them to what to do.

ASHI management and staff talk about what they can do to help all affected Nanay (this is how they call all their member. Nanay means Mother). Those are now suffering after experiencing that bad incident. One solution that they decided is the two weeks suspension for the repayment of every member, this take place the week after the tragedy cause by Typhoon Ondoy. One thing that ASHI will talk about is the recovery loan (RECOVERY LOAN PROGRAM which designed specific for victims of calamity where houses and projects were completely and partially devastated) that will give to the member in order for them to rebuild their lost means of living. This is for discussion; if the member really needs it and it will really help them ASHI will not think twice to give them this kind of loan.