©ACTED
Ruby selling food from her kiosk, 2017
Mrs Ruby is a beneficiary of one of the 126 new shelters recently handed over by ACTED in the Philippines to relocate families whose house was destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. After recovering a safe and permanent roof over her head, Mrs Ruby was faced with difficulties in economic independence. With ACTED’s support, Mrs Ruby started selling food in the market located in the Eastwind Residences, the relocation site built by ACTED with support from the French Development Agency (AFD) and Alstom.
She prepares different varieties of dishes on a daily basis, based on the demand of consumers. The ongoing road construction in the relocation site, with workers buying their lunch directly on the spot. This gives her great opportunities to gain higher sales.
Ruby’s daily routine changed a lot since she opened this food kiosk. Ruby used to be a housewife, and her days were divided between taking care of her children and of the house. Now, with the food kiosk, her days became quite busier: she wakes up early, goes to the market to buy fresh ingredients, cooks food at home and displays the ready-to-eat dishes she prepared in the kiosk while preparing breakfast for their children and ensuring their school uniforms are ready.
However, her eagerness to help her husband and have an additional earning for daily expenditures encouraged her to strive harder for them to live a life with minimal worry in terms of food and financial stability.
With this food kiosk, Ruby’s family now has access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy lifestyle.
“This food selling activity improved my day-to-day life and it makes me more responsible in handling my finances,” Ruby shares.
ACTED’s support also included trainings on financial management, including proper handling of daily sales and family savings. Another building block to the construction of her life after Haiyan and what her family gains from what she is doing now.