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.”