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.”