Thelma

Thelma, 59, is married to Demetrio, and they have three children, all of whom are now married. Her husband works for the government, and the family lives in the northern part of Cebu.

When her children were still in school, Thelma started selling goods to help provide for the family. However, she felt that her income was not enough to meet their growing needs, so she decided to work abroad for two years. After returning home, Thelma took advantage of a government programme that supports returning overseas workers who wish to start or rebuild a business in the Philippines. With this support, she restarted her sari-sari store. Fortunately, the business has grown well and is now generating a good income for the family. In addition to selling various goods, she also offers cash-in and cash-out services, which provide another source of income and attract more customers to her store. Through proper management and her experience, Thelma has been able to improve the business and build a regular customer base. She opens her store at around 5am and closes at 10pm, showing her dedication to serving her customers throughout the day. Thelma has now decided to apply for a loan from LendwithCare, which she plans to repay in a lump sum after 12 months. She will use the loan to increase the working capital of her sari-sari store, allowing her to purchase more stocks, support her cash-in and cash-out services, and further strengthen her business.