Written by Niña Terol-Zialcita
HAPINOY, a Filipino social enterprise working to empower “nanays” (mothers) through sari-sari store-based micro-enterprise and micro-finance programs, is a finalist in Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World, a joint initiative of UN Women Singapore and Mastercard.
The project is a global search for projects that “help empower disadvantaged women and girls, through education, skills training, financial inclusion, social entrepreneurship.” At stake is a US$25,000 grant “to go out there and bring your vision to life.”
Established in 2007 by MicroVentures Incorporated, Hapinoy extends credit and capital infusion for nanays to set up their own Hapinoy Stores and learn to operate and grow their businesses through Hapinoy’s proprietary system. By aggregating stores and using a franchise-like system, Hapinoy is able to assure its beneficiaries of access to lower-priced goods, training, and a support system that the nanays will not otherwise get on their own.
Read more about Hapinoy on ProPinoy.net.
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