Bernardita Yambing

Your Donation Makes a Difference...

Can you spare $60…?

Bernardita Yambing’s mother died when she was 11 years old.  She was the oldest of five siblings.  Her grieving father sent some of the children to live with relatives while Bernardita helped with the farm.  When she turned 20, Bernardita found work at a shoe factory and fell in love with Mamerto, a co-worker.  The couple had a little girl, and Bernardita left the factory to start a small business of buying and selling curtains, pillows, and bed sheets.

Bernadita became a widow when Mamerto suddenly died.  Her little business, generating only $5 a day became the family’s only source of income.  She sought funds from loan sharks, but couldn’t make a profit with the high interest and daily repayments.  They were often not able to purchase anything but rice for food.  Despite all of this, Bernadita never lost hope of realizing her greatest dream: seeing her only child earn a college degree.

In 2009, that hope seemed like it could actually become a reality.  Bernadita heard about Mentors International and our microloans.  She applied and quickly received her first loan for $60.  With the added funds and the business training she received from her mentor, Bernadita saw great success in her business.  She is now on her sixth loan, which is for $1500.  She employs two women and now generates $18 a day on average.  With her increased income, she has been able to improve her home, no longer has to skip meals, and even added electric and water lines to her business.  Most importantly, Bernadita got to see her dream come true: her daughter, Jacquelyn, graduated from college and passed the board exam for teachers.  Bernardita shares her success by helping with the schooling needs of her nephews and nieces because she believes in education.

Bernadita’s story makes us realize that we should never discount the effect of a mere $60.  Because of an initial $60 and business training from a dedicated mentor, Bernardita has been able to bless the lives of her family, the families of those she employs, and her nieces and nephews.  She has seen her dreams come true.  Surely the effect won’t stop there.  Donate today, and enable someone like Bernardita to go from needing help, to providing it.

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