By Will Wrathall
I first got involved with The Manly-Manado Community Partnership in 2005. At that time I was working as a Youth Pastor at Seaforth Baptist Church. When I heard about the vision all I could see were numerous positives. It provided the opportunity for me to connect the young people in my care with people from a different culture and context. Not only that, but it provided an opportunity to link them with other young people in the local Manly community, and to unite across denominations and schools, another form of primitive tribalism! Essentially, I was inspired because the movement offered something uniquely different to other charity initiatives which often focus on the distribution of money to meet needs. In contrast, building authentic global and local relationships was at its core. 

Through Manly-Manado I have been able to use my skills as a teacher and communicator in local schools and churches. Each week I would teach at Balgowlah Boys in lunch time for boys who wanted to do more than just live a normal life. I was constantly amazed that they would come each week - even without providing junk food as an incentive!  One of the highlights was seeing 14 Bally Boys respond in a practical way by participating in the M-M walk. Together they raised over $2000! At St Paul’s Catholic College I gave a few year group presentations and was very happy to meet staff and students respond in practical ways.

Through Manly-Manado I have developed many new friendships with people in the Manly community across church and school denominations. It has increased my desire for community and a community that is active in alleviating very real problems. I have become aware of the subtle forms of poverty that exists in Manly: an excessive busyness preventing genuine community and resulting in weariness, loneliness and isolation.

On a personal level I am now equally concerned in matters big and small of global responsibility. Some people may think I’m crazy, but in Australia I will never accept a plastic bag from a shop with the knowledge that I have hundreds at home, and that they pose an environmental impact in the long term and already cause many problems in our waters. Usually I bring a green bag, so it’s often a funny sight watching me juggle $40 worth of groceries in my hands! In this example, I believe that making a decision and sticking to it is what’s important. In big matters, fair trade is important to me. I am now content to live on less. I don’t need to eat out as much, or keep buying new clothes. I would rather give money to others in real need. Beyond myself, I have been excited by the way churches have united under this vision of community partnership and begun to work together, share resources and support one another.

The decision to go to Manado was quite simple really. I have become increasingly frustrated by the harsh inequalities there are in the world and want to do something more than simply write a cheque. I have a strong conviction that ridding inhumane inequalities present in society was something close to Jesus’ heart. He continually demonstrated this challenging the rich and powerful, and siding with the poor, uneducated and powerless. Complementing this growing conviction was the gift of a background in the Indonesian language, studying at High School and University, and the opportunity to join Ian Freestone on a trip in April 2004.

Upon meeting people face to face in their daily lives and seeing how profoundly different they were to mine, I was aware I had won the ‘lottery of latitude’. Consequently, I have become genuinely thankful for my life. Furthermore, I didn’t want to walk away from these very real people and live with my head in the sand in the insular peninsula. My response was not motivated by obligation, but was driven by the knowledge that with freedom there is responsibility.

Since being in Manado I have become increasingly challenged by the mobility and seemingly endless opportunities that I have, in stark contrast with the lack of mobility and opportunities for people here. Living side by side these people I am very thankful for the opportunities I have been given, and simply want to open the doors of opportunity to those who are not fortunate enough to be given them. I am constantly aware that money is not the solution, but that changing my heart is.

As I continue to live here I hope to be continually challenged and to strive towards bridging inequalities in education. I hope education in schools continues in Manly as I endeavour to write a curriculum and generate support from schools in Manado. Over time I hope that relationships will be established: school to school, church to church, council to council.

The potential for this model to be replicated is huge; imagine 50 community partnerships like this were started by 2015! This, I believe, would be a great step towards the Millenium Development Goals vision for the eradication of extreme poverty by 2015. Furthermore, community partnership builds a foundation of global education and understanding to prevent ignorance, prejudice and miscommunication to cause divisions and escalating problems from this. I believe that cross-cultural education and communication is a fundamental building block for a safe and secure global community.

I believe the Manly-Manado movement offers people in Manly a unique opportunity to be involved in something to tangibly connect with people from another culture and context in a long-term effort to eradicate both the obvious forms in Manado and the subtle forms in Manly. Together, our hearts can be transformed through cross-cultural relationship. Together with the community in Manado we can improve the quality of our lives and ensure a greater global future.

Slava Cehovskih has been living in Manly for six years and is an active member of Christian Surfers Australia.  Slava was involved in organising Christian Surfers' Paddle Against Poverty (from Collaroy to Manly) in January this year, which raised a massive $10,000 for the Sumpompo Rubbish Tip Project in Manado.
 
Join Slava in this video podcast where he shares the impact that the Manly-Manado community partnership has had on his life, the Manly community and those around him.

Sefina Masihor (42) lives in a rural outer suburb of Manado and belongs to a loan group from Bridge of Hope, consisting of 17 local women. She is married to husband David Takapaha (49) and has three sons: Novel (24), Marcelling (22) and Einstein (14).

Her husband David is a motorbike taxi driver whilst Novel works locally as a labourer and Marcelling is a petrol pump attendant.  Her youngest son Einstein is still at school.

Sefina joined Bridge of Hope’s micro loan program in March 2006 and together with her other women team members is already on her third loan of Rph 1,000,000 (AU$130).  “I had never borrowed money before,” said Sefina. “But I really like the Bridge or Hope program as it has given me an opportunity to expand the local kiosk I run in my village.”  The first loan Sefina received over a year ago was Rph 500,000 (AU70).

Before receiving her first loan from Bridge of Hope, Sefina was limited on how many products she could sell at the kiosk in her local village.  She started by selling fried bananas and only working two or three days a week.  Through the loan system she has been able to expand the kiosk to include fish, rice, vegetables and other consumables.

“I used to earn about Rph 40,000 per day (AU$5),” said Sefina.  “But now 12 months later I have been able to more than triple that to Rph 150,000 per day (AU$20),” she announced proudly.   And the other women in her group confirmed that, while clapping their hands excitedly and shouted “Yes it’s true – she really does earn that much money”.  They all encouraged their friend to tell more about her successful business.

Sefina is a hard working woman.  Her thriving kiosk, located alongside a narrow, bumpy road in the village is now open seven days a week.  She is a highly motivated lady who is very clear about how the money from the loans is helping her.   More expansion plans are definitely on the horizon.

“I want to build a bigger business,” she said confidently.  “I’m very busy and whilst I get busier as the business expands, it feels good to be busy.  I like it and I’m happy,” she said with a broad smile.  

Sefina’s loan group is a close knit group of women. They are all enjoying being together and supporting each other with any business problems they have.  “It is a lot of fun to do the training together, such as jam making and baking,” said Sefina. “ The training program binds us together.”

Sefina thanks God for looking after her and giving her the opportunity to join the program.  All of the women go to the same church and use some of their money to donate to the church to help the widows there.  Sefina also helps out in her community by assisting with the catering for funeral services.

When asked what she plans to do with her next loan she says: “I can keep expanding the business of course.”  She paused briefly and then added proudly: “And it will help me to keep my son Einstein in high school.   In fact, we want to be able to send him to university.

“The loans I have received from Bridge of Hope have given me that hope,” she concluded.   

Katrina (42) is married to Elvianus (41) and lives in a small house on her uncle’s land with her son Doddy (11) and her elderly mother Anna.  She is part of the Winetin Village community, where the majority of the people are farmers living under the flight path of Manado’s international airport.

Her daughter, Leiske (24) and eldest son Donny (20) have both left the small two-room family home to try to find work on the neighbouring island of Sumatra.  Both Leiske and Donny had to leave school in grade six (age 12) as the family could not afford to send them to high school.

Katrina’s husband, Elvianus, is a rice farmer but with limited work available his income is irregular.    “Sometimes there is no work for up to a month for my husband,” said Katrina sadly.  So, for many years Katrina has helped to support her family by picking fruit and vegetables from the local farm and then traveling one hour each way by local bus to sell the goods in the busy market in Manado.   But sometimes there was no fruit available for her to pick and buy locally so there were many days when Katrina was not able to earn any money.  An average day’s income for the family was around Rph 25,000 – that’s  AU $3 a day !

With these three dollars Katrina needed to support her family of four and then with any left over money buy local fruit to sell at the market.  So, because of her lack of available capital, it was very limiting how much she was able to invest in food to buy and sell and there was no spare cash for any medical emergencies.  

In the past Katrina had to borrow money from a loan shark if her children were sick.  This happened last year when Doddy had to spend two weeks in hospital with suspected typhoid.   “That was our only choice,” said Katrina “We couldn’t afford to pay the medical costs and I had to continue to try and work whilst Doddy was in hospital. I was charged 20 per cent interest per month and had to make daily repayments to the loan shark.”

Katrina and her family were trapped in the poverty cycle. The family’s financial position was very shaky.

“Of course I worried, but what else could I do?” said Katrina with a frown.  “But then last year I heard about Bridge of Hope and its micro lending program from a friend in the village.   I heard that it was a very good loan system for people like us who are weak economically,” she said.  She decided to join the 18-member loan group who meet once a week to share their business problems and to pray with and encourage each other.

“My first loan from the Bridge of Hope helped me to repay Doddy’s medical bills and use the extra capital to buy more fruit to sell,” she said.  Since joining the loan system with Bridge of Hope, Katrina has been able to double her daily income to an average of Rph 50,000 per day – around AU$6.50 per day !

When asked how she feels about this, she looks up and gives a broad grin “I used to always worry about money. I still worry sometimes, but life is much more enjoyable now.” “I can now also save as well, so if we have any medical difficulties I have savings I can use. Since joining Bridge of Hope I have been able to save Rph 175,000 (AU$25.00),” she said proudly.

Katrina is also enjoying the training she is getting with her Bridge of Hope loan group in her village.  “I’m learning lots of new things such as how to make noodles and cookies.”   Now with the help of the loans Katrina has diversified her business, selling fish, which she buys and sells in her village.

Katrina can now afford to send Doddy to high school which requires an admission fee of  Rph 200,000 (AU$28). The loan has given Katrina a new found hope and she can see a future for her and her family.  “Yes,” she sighs with relief. “The loan has given me freedom.” 

The inspiring story of hope below is of a couple, Harry and Agnes, who have received a micro-loan because of the partnership between Manly and Manado through Action Against Poverty. Our hope is that it will touch your heart to realise that your action has been life changing.

Harry (55) and Agnes (47) live in a basic two-room dwelling with their youngest daughter, Ria (15), and her grandmother, Calista.  They live next to the main rubbish tip inManado, along with many other families whose livelihood is dependant on scavenging for recyclable rubbish.

Harry and Agnes work together collecting plastic, steel remnants and aluminium cans for up to 12 hours per day, every day. Harry and Agnes are a softly spoken couple with sincerity in their eyes but without the necessary skills to make themselves employable. They have no choice but to do what they are doing.

The area in which Harry and Agnes live has free schooling throughout the primary years.  However, once a child reaches high school, there is a Rph 1,000,000  (AU$133) registration fee and Rph 50,000 (AU$6.70) per month tuition fee.  This is not affordable to most families in the rubbish tip area, where many families focus solely on surviving.  Ria’s family is no exception.  Instead of going to school, Ria helps her mum and dad with their collection efforts on the rubbish tip.  Health care is also out of range for most in this community, where a check-up costs Rph 50,000 (AU$7), so infections are self remedied and the common treatment for illness is rest.

Harry and Agnes are on their second loan cycle within the Bridge of Hope loan program, one of Action Against Poverty’s development partners. They are part of a group of 20 members who support each other and hold each other accountable for the repayment of their loans and accumulation of savings. While the group is materially poor, there is a rich community spirit between them.

Harry estimates they collect up to 700 kilos of plastic per week, which he can sell for approximately Rph 1,100 per kilo (15 cents). Harry used to sell his findings daily, which meant he would receive a lower price, forcing the family to live day by day off the proceeds. “With the loans I’ve obtained through Bridge of Hope I can now accumulate my collections over a week as well as buy plastic from other collectors.” Harry explained more: “This means I can sell the plastic in bulk at higher prices to a buyer in Manado city. As this enables me to make a margin on the material we acquire from others we no longer have to rely solely on own labour for making ends meet.”

“Before the loans, we earned about Rph 30,000 (AU$4) per day and saved nothing.   We were living day by day.  I have never been able to plan for and think about the future,” he said sadly.

Since receiving the loans, which began in 2006, Harry and Agnes now earn between Rph 40,000 to Rph 50,000 (AU$6-8) per day.  This enables them to save approximately Rph 5,000 rupiah (75 cents) per day.  A far cry from where they were before they received the loans.

Harry has plans to set up a stall next to their home where he will sell soap to his local ‘rubbish tip’ community.  “I know that I’ll need about Rph 4,000,000 (AU $500) to do this,” he said “And whilst I cannot currently do this, the loans through Bridge of Hope have enabled me to increase my income, put away some savings and begin thinking about the future.”

If they manage to repay the second loan cycle and have sufficient plans to continue increasing their net income, they could be eligible for a third and higher loan of Rph 1,000,000 (AU$130) in the hear future.  With this higher loan and their already accumulated savings, they are hopeful to have enough for their investment in a soap business. The nearest kiosk for buying these necessities is not convenient and Harry and Agnes believe they could sell the soap in the neighbourhood to provide additional income. They will start with soap and see where it leads them.

Although they have been scavenging for rubbish for years and living hand to mouth with no hope of doing anything else, the loan program has enabled them to start saving and start thinking of the future.

Harry concluded: “I don’t think sending Ria to school is possible at this stage, but the loan program has provided us with hope.  Before this we had always felt completely hopeless.”

Selvia starts her day at 4.30 am so she can buy spices such as chilli and onion in order to sell them at Girian traditional market. Her husband has long since passed away and all of her children are married.

Selvia is a member of the Karya Sejati loan group that has been specially set up to offer smaller loans than normal to those in extreme poverty situations.  She was a refugee from nearby Maluku, due to the Islamic Jihad in 2000.

Before she joined the loan group her life was severely limited by her inability to grow her very small business. In fact, she could only buy the spices she needed each day due to lack of capital and then borrow someone else's table in order to sell them. Her daily net income, when she worked, was around 20,000 Rupiah (A$ 3).

Not long after joining with the Bridge of Hope loan program, her condition has dramatically changed. Instead of borrowing the table, she can afford to pay the rent of 150.000 Rupiah per month for a market stall and sell a much greater quantity of spices and farm produce to her customers. If she is not able to sell everything in the market, she brings her merchandise back to refugees camp and sell them there. Her net income has nearly tripled in the last 3 months to approximately 55.000 Rupiah per day (A$ 8).

She is now able to make a small amount of savings to provide for herself as she gets older and to pay for medical bills. She now has a small safety net under her, from the pressure of poverty, for the first time since her husband died.

Selvia is one example of the over 800 family business units that have received small loans, business training and support due to Manly's active action in their partnership with Manado.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

The Sindulang Berkarya Loan Group are located near the seashore, north of Manado's centre in a fisherman's shanty town called Sindulang. There are 24 members, all women and the group is currently on its 4th loan cycle. After the second cycle the group disbanded because of weak leadership.

As beneficiaries of new loan capital raised by the Manly-Manado Community Partnership the group re-started under new leadership.

Now they are a very strong group under the leadership of their new chairwoman Mareyke Mekel. She sells medicines by motor bike to local shops. Yohana Adrian is the vice- chairwoman and Ariantji Howan is the treasurer. The ladies in the group have businesses as cake makers, kiosk owners, fish sellers and canteen owners. Local Manadonese porridge and yellow rice are the main foods produced in the canteens.

When we asked the group what the main benefits of being part of the micro enterprise program were, they said "easing the financial burdens by having available capital at low interest rates, being able to release ourselves from loan sharks, continuity in sending their children to school with increased income, healthcare and shared fellowship”.

The desires of the group are to "save for our futures so that we can have some income when we are older, look after the widows in the group and keep educating our families”.

One of the members of the group, Sarah lives in a wooden house built by her husband right on the beach. Once before the house was washed away by the waves of a storm. The beach acts as the sewer, rubbish tip, latrine and the place they wash while pigs and dogs roam the beach.

The Abbus family : Coconut Charcoal Makers

Meidy (34) is married to Agus (31) and they have a 10 yr old son Arvando. The family lives under the flight path of Manado’s international airport and they also support Agus’ mother and sister Selvi, who was crippled at birth.

Meidy and Agus have traditionally been subsistence farmers. They are fortunate enough to live in a small run down house they inherited from Agus’ parents and to have borrowed a small piece of land from a family member, which is able to produce a crop of maize every 3 months. They also grow bananas and beans.  In the past they have relied upon this for their family income, which has amounted to an average of 250,000 Rph (A$40) per month. Not only was this totally insufficient for their needs, but also very irregular.

In 2004 Meidy learnt how to make Arang Terpurung or charcoal out of coconut shells from Agus’ father before he died. She decided to start a small business with Agus’ help. In January 2006 they took out a loan from a loan shark to help them expand their business, buy some tools and look after their cows. Within a few months of starting, with mounting daily interest payments and the realisation that they were trapped in a cycle of daily repayment, they heard about the Bridge of Hope micro enterprise program. A new loan group of 18 small business owners called Esagenang, meaning ‘United as One’, was starting in their village. This new loan group had been made possible from the funds raised in Manly through Action Against Poverty.

After seven training meetings, informing them on the responsibilities of shared loan group ownership and accountability, Meidy and Agustook up the offer to join the group and were quickly able to pay off the loan shark, free themselves from mounting debt and start to invest into their business to increase the family income.

Coconut shells are a daily waste product of people living in the area whose staple diet includes coconut. Most days, after a 5am start for Agus, when he tends to his cows named Batik & Manis, both he and Meidy collect these shells with their cow pulled cart, paying a small price for each one.  They take anything from a few hours to the whole day to collect and transport these shells to their charcoal-burning pit, along with kerosene and a plentiful of water to extinguish the fire when the charcoal is ready. If the weather is fine they try to burn one pit-full per day over a 4hr attentive process, being very careful not to over burn the shells, resulting in nothing but ash. The charcoal is then bagged, ready to be sold.

Each bag of charcoal requires 500 coconut shells, weighs 35kg and is sold for just 31,500 Rph (A$ 4.70). It is sold for use as cooking charcoal or to help produce inks, toners and batteries. When the weather is fair they can produce up to 20 bags a week if they can get enough raw material. But often it is raining, especially this year and their average production is only 7 bags per week. Their joint resulting income averages A$4/day for all their hard work, but nowat least it is regular and sufficient to meet their daily minimum needs, along with their farming income.

Some days Meidy works the business alone, while Agus works in the field tending to their corn. But mostly they like to work together. “It is not fair for my husband to work hard alone” said Meidy, “in the good times and the bad times, we are together, we are always together.”

When we asked them what were the main benefits of being part of the new loan group, they answered “Low interest, the chance to share with others in the same position, make savings and being able to support our son’s education. All we needed was the opportunity to help ourselves."

Meidy and Agus’ relationship demonstrates an untold love and joy for each other, which carries them through everything. They take great pride in their work and in providing Arvando with an education. Arvando is an intelligent boy, in 5th grade, a year ahead for his age. He is a great sportsman and his dream is to be in the police force. His Dad’s dream as a boy was the same, but his family wasn’t able to afford to send him to the Police Training Academy. Agus’ dream now is to be able to send his son to the Academy.

With the opportunity for increased income, business training and making savings, there is now some glimmer of hope that he may be able to do this one day.

When we asked Meidy and Agus about whether we could use their picture and inspiring story, they shyly smiled and said “we are very happy for you to use it, because we want others like us to have the same opportunity to help themselves”.

As we left, we gave them a spade, a mattock and a saw to help them with their business. They were beaming with delight!

This update we meet two amazing ladies who have recently received their first micro-loans through Bridge of Hope, Action Against Poverty's partner in Manado, giving them the opportunity to turn their lives around.

Hana is the name of a new loan group, consisting of 9 ladies who all run small family businesses in a poor area of Manado.

Mrs. Deity was expecting her 2nd child, when 3 years ago her house, where she also ran a beauty salon and kiosk, was burnt down because of a short circuit. Tragically the fire also consumed her 3-year-old niece. Slowly, with her husband's irregular income as a construction labourer, the family started all over again and worked on rebuilding their home.

Mrs. Deity is using her first A$45 loan to help rebuild her beauty salon business so that she can contribute to the family's income to improve their life and better care for her now 3 and 6 year old children.
 
Mrs. Yuliana is the eldest member of the Hana loan group. This energetic 64-year-old grandma still keeps herself up-to-date with current affairs for she never misses reading the local daily newspaper. Having been a widow for 26 years, she now lives with her eldest son.

In the past, she used to be a teacher but the government closed down where she worked. In order to survive, she started to sell vegetables, and for the past 40 years, she has been a vegetable vendor, working laboriously from 5am to 2pm each day. She is optimistic that her first micro-loan of A$45 will enable her to stock up with a greater variety of produce, giving her the opportunity to help pay for her grandchildren's education.

These ladies are just 2 examples of the now 469 family businesses that you, the community of Manly, are supporting by providing an opportunity for them to help themselves out of poverty and gain self-respect and dignity.

What a privilege it is, for us to provide a future of hope to such amazing people through our partnership.