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Alice is part of ADRA’s Small Enterprise Development Project in Papua New Guinea. In this project, women like Alice can borrow money so that they can start their own small businesses. As part of the programme, the women are then encouraged to save money. This empowers them to be able to be able to earn money and provide an income for their children and families.
In 2004, when Alice first heard about the ADRA project, she and her family were struggling to recover from repeated thefts from their small trade store business. Seeing it as a fantastic opportunity, Alice’s interest was piqued; she was interested in learning how to save money so she took the initiative to start her own Small Enterprise group.

Alice borrowed her first loan amount of K800 and used it to purchase grocery items and stock for the family store that had been closed for more than two years. With the help of her eldest son, she took over the management of the store from her husband. After successfully paying back the loan in just six months, she promptly applied for a bigger loan of K2000. With the new loan, Alice purchased a deep-freeze so she could sell frozen goods. She also purchased additional stock for the store. Motivated by her previous successes, Alice expanded her business by buying a weed-eater to cut grass for residents in her village. With her new income, Alice was able to improve the standard of living for her and her family. For the first time, they had electricity in their home. Alice was able to pay for her children’s school fees and was even able to buy a computer for her eldest son.

The project rules allowed Alice to pay her loan back within 14 months. However, Alice was able to do better than that – she paid her K2000 loan back in just six months! Alice’s business confidence has flourished, and she has since borrowed amounts of K2000, and K4000 for further business ventures including supplying chicken to local businesses, and being an agent for Digicel mobile phones.

Alice is justifiably proud of her achievements, and says that she is very grateful to ADRA for giving her a ‘step up’, and for providing the opportunity to learn business and management skills. A key component to her success is that she has had a fully supportive family, particularly her eldest son and daughter. Alice’s husband has also been supportive and helps from behind the scenes.

To DONATE NOW send your contribution to ADRA’s work in the South Pacific, please contact ADRA at 0800 4 999 111 or give online at www.adra.org.nz