Opportunity International Australia exists to provide opportunities for people living in poverty to transform their lives. With over 40 years’ experience in microfinance and support services, we use a business approach to solve poverty. Rather than a hand-out, we provide our clients with a loan as small as $100 to help grow their small business. This enables them to earn an income and afford food, water, shelter and an education for their children. Visit www.opportunity.org.au
Photo of the week: Papaya, corn, chilli, coriander…the list of fruit and vegetables goes on and on for Eny Lestari – and she couldn’t be happier! With a small loan from Opportunity’s partner in West Timor, Indonesia, Eny has been able to improve her small business; increase her income and enable a secure future for her children.
This means many isolated villages – where many people live in poverty – have limited access to financial services, creating many difficulties for people when managing what little finances they have. They tend to keep their money in unsafe places, such as around their home or hidden in holes.
Opportunity International Australia’s microfinance partner in West Timor, Tanaoba Lais Manekat (TLM) is working to increase access to financial services for the poor in West Timor through a pilot program using mobile ‘banking vans’. The specially designed vans travel to strategic locations in remote areas (such as markets), offering access to savings and loans for people who live out of reach of TLM’s standard microfinance branches.
The vans play educational videos, teaching the importance of savings and addressing local issues, and the project will also see a number of Electronic Delivery Channels (similar to EFTPOS machines) placed with loan officers or in strategically selected locations so that locals can deposit and withdraw money easily. So far, the vans have taken deposits from 219 clients like Amos (pictured).
Amos’ Story
In an isolated area of West Timor, Amos supports his wife Yumince and their three children, Gerson, Dorancy and Leni, with a small farm of just 30x30 metres. Totally dependent on the plot of land, Amos’ income fluctuates throughout the year. Sometimes there isn’t enough money to afford the basics, like food, while a well next to his bamboo house only supplies water during the wet season. At other times, Amos has to walk a kilometre to fetch water from a spring.
Poverty is a reality for Amos and his family, but microfinance is helping him break the cycle. He has recently opened a savings account with TLM’s mobile banking van (pictured), and is putting money away to ensure that he always has enough money to feed his family. So far he’s saved Rp.15,000 (A$1.65) – not a lot in Australia, but for someone who has never had the ability to save before – this savings account symbolises a world of new opportunity and security.
If you would like to help make a lasting difference in the life of someone like Amos, you can support Opportunity’s programs here, or, if you would like to learn more about microfinance and how Opportunity provides small loans and support services to people living in poverty, please click here.
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