Virginia, 40, has lived with feelings of resentment and hopelessness ever since her husband’s souvenir business went bankrupt many years ago. When cheaper, lower qualtity products from China flooded the market, Nicanor’s business simply could not compete with their low prices, despite the high quality of his merchandise. Eventually Nicanor lost his customers and had to close his business down.
Virginia and Nicanor raised their five children in a house built of scrap materials, sharing electricity and a toilet with their neighbors. While Virginia stayed at home, Nicanor worked as a graphic artist. His meager salary was barely enough to keep the family fed. As a result, their four-year-old twins, Marie Gold and Marian Silver, suffered from malnutrition, and required extra care and attention.
Virginia joined ICM’s Transform program in Cebu in search of health and livelihood opportunities. Enrolling in the program meant that she could feed her family with the food packs she received at the end of every lesson. The family members were so underweight that they were immediately placed in ICM’s Home Based Feeding program and began receiving extra food packs. They remained in the program until the twins reached a healthy weight.
The 16 weeks of VHL training equipped Virginia with skills to help her family. She learned how to cultivate a vegetable garden of okra, Chinese cabbage, and bitter melon. These vegetables feed the family and help save on food costs– and her children find it exciting to eat vegetables from their own garden. Virginia was elated to see her children getting healthier and stronger.
Her new means of livelihood has given Virginia hope for the future. She also found solidarity with other participants in the program who have endured similar challenges. Through the Values teachings, Virginia learned that she can find happiness in life despite a lack of money and material possessions. Now Virginia’s focus is to provide for her children and this has given a her a sense of purpose, which is a big step up from the feelings of desperation and hopelessness she had prior to Transform.