Mekobaun A2 Group

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Mekobaun A2 Group, consisting of Meri Hano, Naomi Ola, Nikodemus Hano, Nikolas Banao, Norce Timneno, Petrus Amheka, Yakobus Timneno, Yosep Timneno 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.

Dear Kiva Lenders,

On the 6th of October 2009 our Kiva Field Officer made a trip to Bokong Village to get an update on Mekobaun A2 Group. Bokong is one of remote villages in West Timor. In the morning, situation in this village is quiet as most of community is working on the farm. They are busy to take care of their livestock and plants. When the field officer got into Bokong Village, he saw the students of elementary school were walking through the path; they looked very happy even though they have to walk for about 4 km under the sunshine.

The field officer then went to Petrus Amheka’s house as he is the leader of Mekobaun A2 Group. Petrus is a sixty year old farmer. When the field officer got into Petrus house, he just returned home from a wedding party. Petrus extended a warm welcome to the Field Officer. After talked for a while, Petrus then was interviewed in his house. Petrus is a father of 5 children. Currently, Petrus and wife are still responsible to finance 3 of their children; they are Becy, Julianus and Welem. Beci and Julianus have graduated from High School so they usually help Petrus in farming; whereas Welem is still studying at University in Kupang City. He usually visits his family during the holidays. Petrus really hopes that Welem will complete his college in the future. Petrus also told the field officer about his daily routine; he usually starts to work in the farm at 06.00 am to 13.00 pm. After had lunch and take a rest for an hour Petrus goes back to the farm to feed the cattle and to water the plants until at 5.00 pm.

Petrus decided to join Cattle Fattening Program as he can not just lean on farming especially in dry season. He needs more income to finance his family needs and Welem education fees. Currently, he should focus on Welem education in theUniversity. He has to pay education fees every semester. Fortunately, Welem lives with Petrus’s relative in Kupang City so he does not have to spend money to rent a room for Welem to live. For a part of land in Bokong Village produces Manganese then Petrus is able to dig and collect Manganese in order to support his family daily needs. The manganese costs IDR 1,100/kg.

Petrus and the other group members are interested in joining TLM Cattle Fattening Program as the price of cattle in the market is quite high. Petrus has received a loan amounting to IDR 3,400,000. The loan has been spent to buy cattle to be fattened over 12 month period. Petrus is currently in the second month of the loan. Our Field Officer was invited by Petrus to the cattle stall and the cattle seemed grow well and healthy. Petrus is really optimistic that the price of the cattle will be high when he sells it in the future.

Petrus and the other group members are really thankful for the concern of the lenders to poor farmers in West Timor. They really hope that the support provided by Kiva – TLM will help them to improve their living standard in the future.

“On behalf of Mekobaun A2 Group, I would like to say thank you to Kiva Lenders who always support poor farmer like us, especially in West Timor. Hope God blesses you all!” Petrus said.

Thank you Kiva Lenders!!!

TLM staff