<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-200" title="” src=”https://seedlivelihood.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Pigs_Pigpen1-300×225.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”225″ />One of our exciting new efforts is working with Pastora Paula (Pol) Guazon in the Philippines. Pastora Pol approached us a few months ago, saying that she knew of a group of women in the Amparo Free Methodist Church that would like to begin raising pigs for their livelihood.

A couple of women in the area had already done this successfully, so the technical knowledge was already there. This is a key element in SEED’s philosophy: it is our desire to come alongside people who already have knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) — and in this case even a fully-developed market assessment and business plan!– who simply need some small assist. In this case, the assist is in the form of startup capital, at $47 per pig.

Some of the women involved are considered the poorest of the poor, while others are called the “entrepreneurial poor.” The former have no current means of generating income while the entrepreneurial poor have already shown initiative to find small things to sell or services to provide, but none of these have been sustainable. Amparo Swine Production builds livelihood not only for the current group of 10 families but also includes plans for expansion to “the next group of women.” Five percent of all proceeds will be put in a central fund to provide for the group’s ongoing success.

We are building the online capability to donate to support this group; for now, to partner with the Amparo Swine Production group, call Jane Perry, SEED Office Manager, at 800.342.5531, ext 249.