Mariana Boimau (35) has three children; Melky (14), Riana (13) and Angri (9). Her husband, Thomas, works as a carpenter, filling orders to generate a small income of about Rp.300,000 to Rp.400,000 (A$42.85-$57.15) a month. Their poor economic situation prompted Mariana to start a business selling bakso (a soup made with noodles and meatballs) from a pushcart.
The bakso is made with beef, white and yellow noodles, beef bones, cornstarch and spices. Mariana usually prepares the soup for three hours in the afternoon and sells it at night, with the assistance of her husband. Mariana sells basko six days a week.
Mariana ran the business for a year before joining the Trust Bank program. To expand her business, she needed more capital, so when a neighbour told her about the Trust Bank program she eagerly joined a group.
With her first loan, Mariana increased the quantity of her ingredients and purchased new bowls to sell the soup. With her second loan, she purchased materials to build a new push cart, which her son, Melky, now uses to sell meatballs too. She has seen her business profit double as a result.
Before joining the Trust Bank, Mariana used to generate a daily income of Rp.100,000 (A$14.30), of which Rp.20,000 (A$2.86) was profit. She has now doubled her income and earns a daily profit of Rp.40,000 (A$5.70). She spends her profit on daily needs and her children’s education and in the future, she would like to establish a kiosk in her home.
DSBN is working towards our r first “More than just business” initiative - sponsorship of a "Trust Bank" in West Timor.
Eighty percent of the West Timor's population are considered poor and the majority live in rural areas where they are dependent on agricultural based activities for survival. The need in West Timor is great as its people continue their struggle to survive. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing.
Empowering small business owners!
