CCT Borrowers Often Work in the Sidelines
6 November 2009 at 22:46 Prem Thomas 3 comments
By Prem Thomas, KF9, Manila, Philippines
After visiting many Kiva CCT borrowers, I noticed a trend that the primary business requiring a loan is not the only source of income. In the Philippines side jobs are referred to as “sidelines” or “extra income”. I have met a teachers who also sell clothing, farmers who rent out their plows to neighbors and a TV repair shop that sells ice in plastic bags during hot months. Of the CCT borrowers I’ve met, about half will have some sort of sideline.
Myrna Valencia used her entire Kiva loan to purchase inventory for her Personal Care direct selling business which she sells for a 25% markup. Myrna also has one of the more interesting sidelines I have scene. She recently completed a medical reflexology course and takes blood pressure for her neighbors on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for 10 pesos (about $0.22 USD):
Looks like things are still okay after a month in Manila.
Myrna also provides massages to her community for 150 to 200 pesos ($3.20 – $4.26 USD) an hour to provide extra income for her family.
Prem Thomas is serving as a Kiva Fellow working with the new field partner Center for Community Transformation Credit Cooperative (CCT) in Manila, Philippines.
To view currently fundraising loans from CCT click here.
You can also join our new lending team here.
Entry filed under: blogsherpa, KF9 (Kiva Fellows 9th Class), Philippines. Tags: Blood Pressure, CCT, Center for Community Transformation, Center for Community Transformation (CCT), Kiva, Prem Thomas, Sidejob, Sideline.
1. Ed Coambs | 13 November 2009 at 02:29
Prem,
Myrna is a so smart. It seems like everyone here in the Philippines has high blood pressure. Maybe I should come visit here to get my pressure checked.
Ed
2. Eva, KF9 | 7 November 2009 at 22:06
Haha Myrna definitely made a really creative side job for herself there… hope that side business is working out well for her
Thanks for sharing!
3. Eric | 7 November 2009 at 09:52
its only the same as the West where people have more than one job in order to increase there income and improve there lives. Im happy there are enough employment oportunities to enable this to happen!