After operating just one year from January 7, 2019, the Micro Lending Project funded by donations from its members and established by the Rotary Club of San Diego South Bay (RCSDSB) in partnership with the Sacred Heart Development Credit Cooperative (SHDCC), located in San Rafael Bulacan, Philippines had 100% payback on the micro loans extended to 22 micro entrepreneurs. Plus, an additional of eight micro borrowers have been given micro loan in the second batch.
RCSDSB's Immediate Past President (IPP) Veronic Villanueva, during whose term the project was started, visited some of the micro loan recipients who were very thankful and who were more than happy to show how their once small and lowly businesses had been greatly helped by the Micro Lending Project. Accompanying her were members of sister clubs from the Rotary Club of Meycauayan East and the Rotary Club of San Rafael along with RCSDSB's club secretary, Romero Villanueva. It's worthwhile to note that 25% of the interest income earned by the cooperative from the Micro Lending Project is shared with the sister clubs for use in their local projects.
Photos: A micro loan recipient is in the first picture clockwise above with from L-R: RC Meycauayan East IPP Chito de Jesus, RC San Rafael IPP Erwin Saddi, PP James Javier, RC San Rafael President and SHDCC Manager Erwin Veneracion, Secretary Romero Villanueva, IPP Veronic Villanueva and San Rafael Vice Mayor Edison Veneracion. The second photo shows a young micro entrepreneur (with red hat) who used to be a lowly store helper but now owns the huge store in the background. The third photo is that of a micro entrepreneur who started her own business duplicating keys and as now expanded to selling watches and jewelry. The last photo is another happy micro loan entrepreneur who had expanded her business through a micro loan from the project.