Nina Rica Calapati, a 25-year-old mother from Agoncillo, Batangas, wakes up every day with one goal: to build a secure future for her daughter. Growing up in a home where money was scarce, she learned early to work hard to help her family thrive.

Before joining CARE Philippines’ EMPOWER Project, Nina’s income was unpredictable. She sold vegetables door-to-door and worked as a laborer on a mango plantation, but the money was rarely enough. Her husband’s seasonal construction work offered little stability, and their small fruit-vending business often stalled when their motorcycle broke down or monsoon rains kept customers away.

“I wanted to build something more stable—something that would help my daughter grow up with fewer struggles than I had,” Nina says.

New Skills, New Opportunities

When her sister told her about the EMPOWER Project, Nina saw it as a major opportunity to improve her business. She joined the project and immediately appreciated how it supports women’s participation in the local economy.

Through hands-on training, Nina learned how to manage money, plan for the future, and build a resilient business. She realized these were the same areas she had struggled with before. These new skills gave her the tools and confidence to turn her small shop into a lasting livelihood that can support her family.

Growth and Leadership

Using a cash grant from the project, Nina improved her “Fruit on Wheels” business. She and her husband, Joseph, turned their motorcycle into a mobile shop to reach customers in nearby areas, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, and fish. They also set up a stall twice a week at the local market to help their sales grow even more.

Last year, they earned a 10,000.00 profit during the New Year celebration. They used this income to improve their mobile shop, buy a sow that has already produced piglets for sale, and cement their kitchen floor. Beyond running her business, Nina has taken on a leadership role as the chairperson of her local Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) group. She now encourages fellow members to practice financial discipline, build savings, and support one another.

A Vision for Tomorrow

Nina cleans the pigpen where the sow they bought from their sales are with her piglets. Photo: Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

Today, Nina’s business does more than just cover daily needs—it has opened doors once thought closed. She has already achieved a major goal: sending her child to a better school.

Looking ahead, she is focused on protecting her home. Because they live near Mt. Taal, falling ash often damages their roof; she plans to use her future earnings to replace it with more durable materials. With her growing piggery and the success of her mobile shop, she is no longer just working to get by—she is building a legacy of strength and independence for the next generation.

This Women’s Month, we celebrate Nina—and all women who keep rising, rebuilding, and leading with strength and hope.

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The Empower and Mobilize Potential Opportunities for Work, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience (EMPOWER the Youth Project) is an initiative by CARE Philippines, in partnership with the Tijori Foundation, dedicated to strengthening the livelihoods and resilience of young people in Batangas.