To many Filipinos, Super Typhoon Yolanda (internationally referred to as Typhoon Haiyan) remains as the most threatening natural calamity they have experienced in their life. Having wreaked havoc across practically the entire country, some of the damages it left in its path can still be seen and felt today.
To the Guiuanons (people from Guiua), the lack of access and control of economic and finances became very much prevalent post-Yolanda. It left its citizens in need of business opportunities and intervention targeted for tailor-fit skills in the hopes of social and economic rehabilitation for the years to come.
In order to further nurture economic recovery, community members took it upon themselves to get organized and banded together to rise from the debris and trauma left by the super typhoon. If there was anything positive that was created from the terror brought about by Yolanda, it was the formation of solid camaraderie among its community members.
Motivated by natural and unpredictable calamities like that of Yolanda, Good Neighbors made income generation one of its main thrusts to achieve economic empowerment among its community partners. Savings groups were formed in strategically selected barangays to teach the locals the concept of community savings that aid in addressing poverty and help pave the path for the people’s self-reliance.
The first target of this program is to establish the people’s value for not only individual, but group money management that also allows members to support their fellow community members. This process also supports the cultivation of foresight and money savings with the intention of providing for the needs of the family in the years to come, particularly for health and education. Furthermore, lessons learned and experiences gained by members are also passed on to their children and other relatives.
Although challenges such as varying personal values and personalities when it comes to monetary management, the bond of a shared goal and vision was their main weapon in surpassing various hurdles experienced along the way. They were able to internally set a standard of behavior for themselves and for other members.
As skills direct the use of physical energy, values direct the use of psychological or mental energy. Therefore, the highest levels of individual and social accomplishments demand deeply rooted values that are paired with high discipline. As such, values formation was made an integral part of the community development process supporting the notion that shared values provide a group of individuals with a sense of cohesion, identity, and purpose.
- Baycan Savings Group
- Cantahay Savings Group
- Brgy. Mayana Coco Agri Producers Savings Group
- Camparang United Savings Group
- Saopao Achievers Savings Group
- CSF Central Savings Group
- CSF North Savings Group
- CSF South Savings Group
Savings group members attended the two-day values formation and leadership development activity initiated by Good Neighbors from the 11th to the 18th of December.
