Mekobaun A1 Group

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Mekobaun A1 Group, consisting of Matias Hana, Gotlif Banao, Ruth Bani, Lazarus Bani, Lebrina Timneno, Maria Amheka, Deci Hano by Tanaoba Lais Manekat Foundation (TLM) in Indonesia. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the 12 months of this loan, Tanaoba Lais Manekat Foundation (TLM) will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Hello Kiva Lenders,

Last Tuesday, on the 6th of October 2009 our Kiva Field Officer went to Bokong Village to get an update on Mekobaun A1 Group. The ride took him for about 2 hours from Kupang City, as he had difficulty in getting into the village, given that the road is bumpy and dusty. The village is situated about 27 km from Kupang City. Bokong can be categorized as a remote village as there are no electricity, health and transport facilities available in this area. The community should use motor cycle taxi (usually called with “ojek”) to get into the Main Street in order to get public transport (such as minivan) to sell their agricultural product at the market in Kupang City. The community should walk for about 3 km from their village to the neighboring village if they need medical treatment. Most of community in the village has low level of education as they are from poor farmer family. The community focuses on how to earn income to meet their family needs.

The community often faces difficulty in dry season as they can not cultivate their farm well. The lack of water supply is the main issue for community in this area. Fortunately, part of land in Bokong Village produces manganese so in dry season (in October) they usually dig and collect manganese to be sold. From this business they can generate more income. The manganese costs IDR 1,100/kg.

When the field officer got into the village, he went to Matias Hana’s house but Matias was not at home as he attended a traditional wedding party in the village. His family welcomed the field officer when he arrived. After waited for about 2 hours, Matias came home and then met the field officer.

Matias Hana, a 34 year old farmer; grew up in Bokong village. He is the leader of Mekobaun A1 Group – a group of 7 farmers. Matias has received a loan amounting to IDR 3,400,000. The loan has been spent to buy young cattle to be fattened over 12 month period.

Matias is a father of 3 lovely children. He was so nice and enthusiastic in telling about his daily life as a farmer to the field officer, he also told the field officer about the cattle condition. Matias usually goes to the farm at 07.00 am; His activities include cultivate the farm, water the plants and feed the cattle. He never feels tired to work hard for his family. He is taking care of his cattle patiently. Matias always feeds and makes sure that the cow is in good condition before he returns home in the early evening. This is an important thing to help him in getting a good price when he sells it in the future.

Since having cattle to be fattened Matias is quite busy on the farm. He usually spends his days on the farm. He enjoys his current activities because it can give benefits for his family live in the future. That is the reason why he works hard every day. Matias hopes that his effort can provide a better life for his family. Matias never find difficulty in feeding the cattle as he always have bananas leafs, lamtoro leafs & seeds and reeds available on his farm.

Matias is grateful as TLM – Kiva is still care and mindfully to help to poor farmer like him. Matias hopes TLM – Kiva will always willingly to help poor farmer in West Timor. In this opportunity, Matias would like to thank TLM – Kiva for the opportunity given to him and the other group members to improve their living standard.

Thank you Kiva Lenders!!!

TLM Staff