Sophia, a 35 year old widow with two children, has lived in Kupang, Indonesia her entire life. Growing up in a family of five, love was abundant, but basic needs often struggled to be met. As the oldest in her family, most of Sophia’s childhood was spent tending to household chores, fetching water, helping in the fields, and prescribing to the daily schedules of her siblings. As her mother and father worked as sharecroppers, she carried the load of the household. Routinely, she began each morning by waking the children, preparing “breakfast”, before setting out to walk her brothers to school. Dropping the boys off at the school gates, she secretly desired to follow behind them, but household funds were limited and she was needed at home. Daily responsibilities called, and someone needed to assume the reins to keep all alive and well. Nevertheless, along the years, she found contentment in assuming her role as care taker, and this served her well as she went on to marry and begin her own family. Three years ago, however, life suddenly changed. While working as a local fisherman, Sophia’s husband fell ill. Having contracted malaria, homemade remedies were powerless against the disease, and medication was sparse and too expensive. Within two weeks Ramond had succumbed to the disease, and suddenly Sophia had not only lost the person she loved, but she had now been thrown into a role she could never have imagined…sole breadwinner. With very little education, and scarce job opportunities for women, what was she to do? She had no education, no experience. How could she care for her children and work at the same time? Where was she to turn? Luckily, once again, her enduring spirit rose from within. She may have lacked an education, but it did not mean she lacked skill. In all the years of caring for her siblings, she acquired one specialized gift that many did not have. Overtime, the mending of children’s favorite trousers and the patching of favorite garments developed into an ability to sew exquisite pieces of work. If only this humble lady could now take her skill and use it to her advantage. If only she could acquire some materials, and take her service to market. If only she could have a little help in starting a business…maybe this one idea, this one talent, would be the key to her survival. - Welcome to Waters Beyond Waters: Watch a small loan, turn into a business, that changes a community, and eventually a nation.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 19:31:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015