Sevilla, Bohol – When you give a group of children buckets of paints, paintbrushes and a canvass wall, they will give you a colorful mural painting. This is what happened in a small, rural community in Bayawahan where a group of children were provided with a venue where they can start a savings group. Few months after their group was formed, the kids’ savings drastically increased as they venture into different entrepreneur opportunities.
The Bayawahan Cute Children’s Community Managed and Savings Association (CoMSCA) was formed when some of the parents of the children, who are also members of a different savings and credit groups in their community, decided to help their children have their own association.
After several months of formally operating as an independent group, the children group bravely risked their initial savings by using it as capital for their lechon (roasted pig) business.
Being smart on their business, they chose to sell roasted pig because they know that it is an all-time favorite meal and the distance of their community to the town center increases the demand of their food enterprise. Their first attempt of selling didn’t last for more than three hours as people stormed their roasted pig. Their first sale earned them P1,140 ($26).
Young entrepreneurs
Before they were formed to a savings group, these World Vision-sponsored children, who are also friends with each other, lived a simple student life. Being raised in a family with enough or meager income, they hoped to have an activity where they can earn during their free time.
The children could never be more thankful to the parents who trained them about managing a savings association and basic enterprising. Their group doesn’t just allow them to learn the value of saving but it also taught them how to earn income from their savings.
For Tiburcio Cutin Jr., 15, being a member of their children savings group is an opportunity for him to experience the dynamics of entrepreneurship at a very young age. “Before I joined our group, I had no idea about basic selling. Now, I already learned how to save and how to use my savings wisely. I plan to take Business Marketing in college; I know this experience will be helpful for me,” says Tiburcio.
Aside from their roasted pig business, these young entrepreneurs also sell other food delicacies. They also offer singing services to special occasions since some of the members are members of a choir group.
The members of Bayawahan Cute Children’s savings group are really committed to save and earn more. The savings earned by the members allow them to have a reserved fund for group or individual expenses. “I hope that the savings in group will continue to grow. It is very helpful when I need to spend for my studies. Our group is also willing to share the things we have learned about saving and earning to other children in our community,” says Tiburcio.
