MIZPAH SKA is one of the three SKAs (Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Association) organized in Barangay Quirino Maria Aurora, Aurora. This SKA was organized on December 2008 with 30 women members who are formerly mere less confident housewives before.

After five (5) months of pre-operation period, the Association received their capital seed fund on May 2009 amounting to P150,000.00 equally released to its 30 members at P5,000.00 each. Members are engaged in different income generating projects such as crop production, livestock raising and trade and commerce (like sari-sari store and kakanin vending).

After one and a half year of operation, the association had paid in full their loan to DSWD with more than 100% savings generation. With their aggregated savings amounting to P108,000.00, the association decided to reloan it to members at P2,500.00 each at 3% interest rate. In order to gain profit from their remaining savings, the association agreed to invest it in a project which will be managed by one of their members. For this, the association decided to establish a sari-sari store since there are a few store in front of the elementary school in their barangay. The amount of P40,000.00 was withdrawn from their bankbook for the construction of the store and the initial capital for their goods/merchandize.

The store was manned by the SKA President Encarnita Oropilla whose house is also near the school and barangay plaza. After some months of operation where they are gaining from their store, they decided to establish a new one since the barangay is the biggest from the 40 barangays of Maria Aurora. The new established sari-sari store with an initial capital of P10,000.00 is tended by one of the group leaders. As agreed by the association in one of their regular meetings, the members patronize their store for their basic needs which they are complying until now. The store keeper will receive 10% of the stores’ net profit which serve as her personal income in addition to the share she will get from the income of the association.

To date, the association has already increased its investment to their two sari-sari store to P80,000.00; they also purchased two (2) monobloc tables and eight (8) monobloc chairs which they are using during their meeting. The total amount of savings reloaned to members and non-members now reached to P220,000.00 and a collectible of P28,000.00 as interest from private individuals who borrowed part of their savings.

The store keepers expressed their gratefulness to their association who provides them their family income while increasing their own share to their association. ###