In a small barangay (barrio) tucked in the Cordillera Mountains of northern Luzon,Phillipines, almost 20 women walk for hours to get to Faith Lutheran Church for Saranay (“helping one another”) Women’s Group meetings.
They have been receiving training in financial management for several years and they now operate a microfinance program, grow-roast-grind-and-market their own coffee, and engage in a variety of craft projects.
The women have expanded their coffee roasting business and now have a permanent facility to store their coffee roaster and grinder and a place to sell their homemade snacks, coffee, and crafts.