RASYIDAH – Micro entrepreneur

Banda Aceh - Indonesia

Rasyidah used to sell food at a nearby canteen. She now produces her own product range of traditional Acehnese food, steamed abalone. She buys abalones from a small fishing village about 10 hours drive from her home. In the past, Rasyidah would have to make the 10 hour drive to order her abalone, but now with the convenience of having her own mobile phone, she simply orders over the phone. It is delivered to her house the next day.

Recently her business has grown in terms of income and staff – currently employing over 10 people from her village. Her traditional food is already famous among government officials. Rasyidah was one of the caters at the recent inauguration of the new Governor of Aceh.

Her business is also recorded among the top ten ‘best traditional cake businesses in Aceh’ – according to the local Trade & Industry Department. Her desire for the business is to produce better products and wider markets. She wishes to get 3 more mobile phones for her financial and marketing staff.

SARIDAH – Micro entrepreneur

Banda Aceh - Indonesia

Saridah has her own kiosk in front of her house. She produces crispy banana chips, which she sells at her own kiosk and other kiosks in her village. Before she received the mobile phone, she had to go to the market to buy stock This method loses most of her productive time making the banana chips.

The mobile phone is highly useful to increase her business. She wishes to have one more mobile phone so that she could give it to her sister whom has her own kiosk. Saridah also put her banana chip at her sister’s kiosk. With the mobile phone, she would be able to monitor her banana chip’s selling progress.

YOHANA – Loan Officer YDS

Banda Aceh - Indonesia

Yohana has been working as YDS project officer for almost one year. She loves meeting new clients and visiting her clients in their village and does this as often as she can.

Through enable community YDS provided Yohana with a mobile phone so that she can keep in regular contact with her clients that have also received a mobile through the programme. At any time of the day, if Yohana’s clients need to call her for advice, they can do so easily. This mobile phone has become a highly beneficial business tool for Yohana.

HERRY – Loan Officer YDS

Banda Aceh - Indonesia

Herry has been working as YDS project officer for eleven months. About his job, Herry most likes interacting with his clients, the majority of which have been in their business for over 10 years.

YDS had entrusted him with the mobile phone via enable community so that he could communicate with his clients easily.

Belinda Tan – Micro entrepreneur

Manila - Philippines

                                                                        My name is Belinda Tan.  I have been a partner of CCT for 3 years.  I received a loan of 12,000 pesos to run a Sari Sari store.  Now that I have a phone I use it to sell e-load and for every 20 pesos sold, I make 5 pesos.  I sell around 1000 pesos of e-load each week.  The money I receive from sales goes towards educating my four children.  I am so pleased to have met enable community – thank you for coming to help our  community.

Muharram – Micro entrepreneur - salted fish

Banda Aceh - Indonesia

My name is Muharram, I have salted fish business. I have been a YDS client for 1.5 years and now in my second loan-cycle. When I received this hand phone I thought it would be used best in calling my husband so that we have better communication. But, it turns out that I could have more benefit than I could think of. It has assisted me tremendously in running my business.

I dry the fish at home and then I bring the salted fish to the fish-auction market which located quite far away from home. Previously, if I was at the auction place and customer came to my home to buy the fish, because my husband does not know the price, the customer had to return the next day. But now, my husband can easily call me and ask for the price. Also previously, I had to wait for the next day to sell the left over of my stock at the auction. Now I don’t have to wait another day to sell the left over fish making me much more profit and my customers much happier!

Due to expansion of my business, I plan to hire people to assist me running this business. Thus I would need another phone for my employee so that we could have faster communication. Thank you!

Sri Kurniawati – Micro entrepreneur, minibus transport

Banda Aceh - Indonesia

I have been YDS client for almost six months. My business is managing intercity minibus transport. With the new hand phone along with a loan that I received from YDS, I could manage my much business easier. I can now communicate with my customers as well as some of my employees. Also I could contact my Loan Officer if there are any changes in my loan. Thank you!

Pacita Bautla– Micro entrepreneur

Manila - Philippines

I am Pacita Bautla and I run a family business along with my husband and three daughters.  We sell eggs and have been doing for over 20 years.  We sell between 7-8000 eggs per day.  We distribute these eggs through our sellers and here at the shop.  enable community gave me and my family a mobile phone.  We are very excited about being able to use the phone to contact egg dealers and our roving sellers.  Thank you to all the people involved in enable community.