CWS News

My name is Nita Pasali from Tanamawau Village of Tojo Subdistrict, Central Sulawesi. In my village, my family used to own land to plant non-rice crops. During the conflict that started in 1998 and lasted several years, we lost everything we had, including the house and farming land. We lived in a displaced-persons camp in Kulinti of Pamona Sub-district. Life was really tough living in the camp and being jobless.
   
In 2003, we resettled and rented land from the local community to grow cayenne pepper and vegetables. CWS’ food program helped my husband and me to work the land and harvest it.

We harvested the farm and use the product for our family’s consumption. I wanted to help my husband earn more money so that we could afford a better living, so I started a business selling cayenne pepper or Rica as we call it, eggplants, spinach, tomatoes, etc at Tentena Market. It wasn’t easy in the beginning. We could not rely only on the money we earned from farm produce to develop the business. So I dared my self to borrow money from a loan shark, even though it cost me 30%–40% interest. It was the only option available to me at that time. Before I realized it, I was deeply indebted to the loan shark. All the profit I made from the sales I had to use to pay the interest.

Nita Pasali was one of many vendors in Tentena local market who got money from loan shark to run their business. With an improved capacity, the savings and credit group can help them out of heavy debt.
(CWS Indonesia )

I heard from my friends about a savings and credit group for the vegetables vendors of Tentena Market. I asked what the group actually was. I understood that their life wasn’t so different from mine. They explained that they were trying to free themselves from loan sharks; which is what I wanted to do also.

The group received finance training, articles of association/articles of establishment development training, and administrative training as well as attended networking workshop along with the other 23 groups.

Since I joined the group, I promised to save all my profits in the group’s savings program. After several deposits, I applied for a small loan to improve my business. My first loan was Rp. 200,000,- which I used as capital for my business. I applied for another loan of Rp. 500,000 after I repaid my first loan. Now, I’m trying to settle my third loan of Rp. 750,000,-.

The group only charges me only 2% interest. Therefore, I can afford to apply the profit from my product to pay the loan settlement, in addition to daily needs and school fees for my son. I also managed to settle my debt with the loan sharks. A big burden has been lifted from my life. I really feel the benefit of joining this Sintuwuraya savings and credit group and doing the business. Now I can say that I help my husband earn money for our family. I proudly say that I am an independent woman.