The little businessman

"As long as you have the will to succeed, you will always find a way to do so."

These are the words that stuck in James’ mind that were shared by his father when he was just a little boy. Now that he's a teenager, he still remembers it and keeps his father’s advice as his inspiration.

James grew up as a simple farm boy in the mountainous area in Antique, a Visayan province in the Philippines. He lives with his parents, four siblings and two adopted younger cousins in a medium-sized hut made of nipa and bamboo in the middle of vast rice fields owned by private individuals.

"I know I can do something for my family. I want to help them.”

The income earned by James’ parents isn’t enough to support the family well. James and his twin brother, Delvie, need to help their father on the farm.

Each day after school, James would immediately drop his bag after arriving home and pick up the plow and head to the farm to help increase his father’s daily wage.

“It requires hard work and efficiency in planting each rice stalk,” he shares. “Instead of studying, I often spend my afternoon helping my father.”

His daily exposure to hardship has molded James to become a wise and responsible youth. It also motivated him to change his family’s condition. “I know I can do something for my family. I want to help them.”

Like an answered prayer, a blessing came to James when his World Vision sponsor sent a personal gift to him. James acted on what his father said to him years ago and started a small native chicken business, which he hopes will save them from poverty.

“I am very thankful for my sponsor for giving me a gift," he says. "I decided to invest it, so after receiving it, my father and I immediately went to the market to buy 10 native chickens. I plan to let them multiply so I can sell more from them.”

Being constantly advised by his business-minded father, James has found a better way to help his family earn income.

“Each morning, I feed the chicken with milled corn or rice. I also fetch water from our well to let them drink. And in the afternoon, I look after them so they can return to their den for the night,” James beams with enthusiasm as he shares how he takes care of his chickens. “My siblings also help me in taking care of the chickens.”

James plans to buy goats and pigs when he will have earnings to expand his current business.

“I will always remember that day when my father advised me to work hard for a successful life.” James says. “This small business is a step to reach my dream.”

By Mong Jimenez, Communications Officer, World Vision Philippines