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THE PEOPLE WE HELP

Tina Eneliko in Apia, Samoa used her creativity, industry and a loan from SPBD to implant herself right into the middle of the Samoan construction industry. Tina took out a ST$750 loan to purchase moulding cases, a vice, iron rods and cement mix to enable her to start producing concrete balusters at her home.

Using the tools, iron rods and concrete mix she can make a finished baluster in about three hours. She can sell a baluster for ST450 (about £10) and is now producing and selling 40 ballusters a week. That's 120 hours per week (her operation is truly around the clock!). Her balusters are used for new Western style homes and offices and Tina has now lined up several local contractors to whom she supplies her product.

Tina, a mother of five, is now able to afford significant improvements to her very basic home and can afford to give all of her children a good education and a good environment in which to grow up. She is just one of SPBD's shining examples of formerly poor members who are now super-charged micro-entrepreneurs.

Flor Lopez says that, as a small tailor he still needs credit to sell his products.

"Before I obtained a loan from ASODENIC, life was difficult for me. If I wanted more work I needed credit, but if I needed more credit I was forced to turn to loan sharks. These loan sharks charge very high interest rates: they lend 100 cordobas and you have to pay back 130 or 140 cordobas every month. 

Flor Lopez is a client of ASODENIC in Nicaragua, a project partner of Oikocredit.

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