Silvestra

Loan description:

Silvestra Misagrande is 49 years old, and married with a nine year old boy who is in the local primary school. She also takes care of her two year old niece whose parents decided to go abroad and work. Four years ago, Silvestra decided to establish her own business. She sells mobile phone cards. She put up a simple but prominent banner on the wall in front of their house advertising the phone cards. People in her local community visit regularly to top up their phones with more credit. Almost all mobile phones require pre-paid credit to operate and landlines are not as common. Phones are absolutely vital in the Philippines as most people have relatives working in other parts of the country and abroad. Silvestra has gathered a large number of regular customers. She has applied for a small loan in order to stock up with cards and other mobile phone accessories. She thinks she could gradually expand her business to something more formal such as a stall, but still working from home.