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.