Coffee, The Communal Way
Linked to a coffee value chain, Ramon grew his business, generated local employment, and created opportunities for future generations.
Latin America + Caribbean
November 02, 2026
“I really wanted to have a permanent place where I could sell my products,” Myrna said, “so I approached the school principal and asked for permission to sell at the school. Thank God the principal allowed me. With God's help and guidance, I was able to start my business there.”
How did Myrna find the confidence to make this bold move? And where did she develop the business savvy to recognize it was necessary in the first place?
Making Dumplings to Make Ends Meet
Myrna's family lived in Palsong, a small town in the Philippines nestled among palm forests and blue mountains. Her husband was a construction worker, but work was scarce in this rural farming area, meaning he lived and labored hours away in the big city. And although he returned every month for a brief visit, it was never long enough. Just as soon as he came home, he was gone again.
Even with his job, the family struggled financially.
“We were always stressed,” Myrna said. “I was always worried about how we would meet the needs of our children.”
To make ends meet, Myrna cooked siomai, steamed dumplings stuffed with meat and vegetables and served with spicy chili-garlic oil. Myrna sold these in nearby cities, but she didn’t have a permanent storefront where she could build her brand. Without a solid foundation, the business wasn’t enough to provide for Myrna's family—or ensure that her husband could come home.
Investing in Success
Through her church, New Life Believer, Myrna connected with Convoy of Hope (COH), our training partner in the Philippines, and joined their PW microenterprise training program.
"Through the Microenterprise Training Program, I learned how to properly manage and run a business,” Myrna said. "I also learned that it's important to invest in success—not just in capital, but in knowledge, skills, and equipment that will help my business grow. The training helped me become more confident in managing and running my business.”
But Myrna didn’t stop there—she pursued additional skills in meat processing and bread making to improve her dumplings and make sure they were safe to serve. Then, armed with a small grant and her newly acquired skills, Myrna took her boldest step yet.
Feeding the Leaders of Tomorrow
She hunted for opportunities—and identified an untapped market at the local high school. Nobody else had seen this opportunity, but Myrna had, and she was going to make the most of it.
Daily, hungry students flocked to her snack stand to devour her dumplings. But it wasn’t just the yummy food that attracted customers—it was Myrna herself. Her confidence, her welcoming presence. They always came back for more.
Encouraged by her success, Myrna extended her blessings by offering employment to another mother. And, more recently, she opened a second snack shop that operates in the evenings.
“The food business is not easy,” Myrna said. "It requires a lot of preparation, hard work, persistence, and sacrifice. But despite the challenges, I believe that if you are determined and dedicated, you will achieve your dreams."
Bringing a Family Back Together
As her business grew, Myrna realized her income was now enough to support her family without her husband needing to work away from home. Now that they’re together again, they can share milestones, face challenges together, and experience God’s faithfulness more fully as a team. “I am so happy and grateful because we can now be together as a family,” Myrna said. Looking forward, Myrna is excited to see her children graduate and have a bright future.
That’s the lasting value of training: people become empowered to start their business, grow with confidence, and create opportunities for others—and themselves.
