Teresita Viray

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When her husband passed away unexpectedly more than five years ago, Teresita Viray did not know what would become of her family. Without a job or income, her future seemed bleak.

Then a friend invited her to attend a Mentors Philippines center meeting in her neighborhood. She learned that she could take out a small loan to start a business. Her first loan was just 3,000 pesos (about $50).

"I used the money to start a tiny sari sari store," Viray said. "That was five years ago."

Six months later she had repaid the loan and was ready for her second loan of 5,000 pesos. She has now repaid five loans (her last was for 33,000 pesos) and is preparing for her 6th loan cycle. Her once-small sari sari store has become a well-established grocery store.

With shelf after shelf of neatly arranged canned goods, fresh foods, and other personal and grocery items, Viray's grocery store is the pride of the neighborhood.

"I'm very happy," smiles Viray, with tears in her eyes. "I am so grateful for Mentors. Since I opened my store, I have been able to buy food for my family and pay for the education of my children. My youngest son is now in his second year at the university and is studying business management. I am so proud I have been able to support him. But I am also proud to have accomplished something I had never even dreamed of before. I have learned how to operate a business. I have learned how to manage my money. I know how to keep records for my business. I have learned accounting processes for my grocery store. I have learned how to track inventory. I want to have an even larger store someday, so that I can buy a truck and make deliveries." she said.

The road for Viray has not been an easy one, but she says she will be forever grateful. "My children are so happy for me. Even though their father is not alive, I have been able to support my family. Without my store I don't know where we'd be."

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