A widow and former garment factory worker, Wenifreda has re-made herself and come back stronger and more determined than ever!

• Nanay Weni moved to Manila when she was about 17 years old to live with her uncle after graduating from high school because she thought Manila offered more opportunities than her home province of Laguna.
• Opportunities weren't as plentiful as expected, so Wenifreda decided to work for a garment factory in 1973 making jeans and dresses. She worked here for 7 years, and little did she know she'd learn skills that would one day come in handy for her fair trade work with GIANNA!
• Weni married and had her first child at age 31, followed shortly thereafter with her second child.
• As a working mother, Weni often commuted multiple hours to work (one-way), put in a full day's labor at the factory, then commuted back home. She "always put food on the table," she says with one of those hard-working-mother-type smiles.
• In 1998, her husband passed away, which began a difficult time, but her children and she came together and made it through. They are consequently very close and have a sense of familial "we can get through anything" attitude.
• As Weni walks us into her home, she proudly tells us that she currently lives with 2 of her children.

When we ask Weni what she's most looking forward to, she responds with a beaming smile, "APO!" (Translation: "Grandchildren!")

• And in late 2010, Weni got her dream—her daughter (Dahlia) has her first child and Weni's first grandchild, a lovely boy nicknamed Archie.
• Weni says she's happiest when she's working or spending time with her family… or doing both at the same time!
• Aside from her dream to have more grandchildren and to continue working hard, Nanay Weni tells us that her dreams have changed a bit now that she has grandchildren—she wants to be a good example for them and help them through school.
• As Weni snuggles her grandson, Archie, she tells us that she's very happy!

Aside from helping her financially, Weni says she has a greater understanding about how business works and is thankful she's able to help her son in college.

• Weni's son, Danny, is "studying computers" in college, and she's grateful that she's able to help him pursue this dream.
• Often in the Philippines, relatively senior former garment factory workers (so typically 40s+ women) are discriminated against and have difficulty finding work. Companies don't hire these women because there are numerous younger women available for the factory jobs. Weni tells us that she's thankful to have sustainable work that allows her the flexibility to work from home, earn fair trade wages, and use skills she knows well.