A microloan helps a pottery business sustain a family

By Maryann Zamora, World Vision Philippines

Two woman, one in her 50s and the other in her 60s, mold the clay carefully and passionately as they form the pots used for cooking. They manually mold it using their hands and water.

Norma’s family owns the pot making business. “It started really small. We used to heat the pot at the open space. It was difficult but since we don’t have enough capital, we had to live with it,” she says.

For Norma’s family, pot making has been their main source of income. “We get everything – the family expenses and our children’s education- in pot making. It is our main source of income,” Norma says.

“This is our version of gold [referring to the clay], it’s not shimmering but it’s our precious treasure.”

Norma and husband Honorato, 70, have three children aged 28, 26 and 22. Norma shares that they never expected to have their business grown like it has to this point.

“Before, our customers would come and asked us to make pots by bulk but we kept on resisting because we don’t have enough capital to make it. We had been looking around our neighbourhood for additional capital, but no one can lend us because we almost have the same situation – living in day to day basis,” Norma says.

To help family sustain their financial stability, World Vision started offering micro-loans for families who want to engage or make their business more sustainable.

“At first I was hesitant to loan. I was afraid I can’t pay it but if we will not do it, we can’t make our business grow,” Norma says. Norma’s first loan was 2,000 pesos (48 US dollars).

“This is where I invested my first loan,” Norma points to the pottery shop where they are making and displaying the pots.

“It’s hard if you don’t have a shop. You can’t display your pots and it’s hard to harden it especially when it’s rainy season,” Norma says.

Now, the family’s pottery business has been earning with regular customers buying pots in bulk.

With the demand of the pots, they are now also giving livelihood to their neighbours. They now have three other pot makers.

“With this, I realised that having a loan is not that risky. You just have to know where you will put it. You have to invest it for the money to grow,” she adds.

Norma’s family business has been growing. They have been earning a minimum of 20,000 pesos (476 US dollars) a month.

“With our business, one of my children will graduate this March and that’s because of our labour in pottery making,” Norma says.

The micro-loan arm of World Vision’s local partner has been growing with more than 5,000,000 pesos in revolving funds (119,047 US dollars). They are now taking its way to become a multi-purpose cooperative where members have wider options for livelihood sustainability.