Empowerment

 Naleer-Sri Lanka

A.C.M Naleer has been running his print shop in the crowded suburb of Slave Island in Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo with his family, including his father and brother, for the past 15 years. The shop is a tiny, cramped rectangular shaped room with a small table for sorting finished jobs and two printing presses – one an old relic and the other a newer one in working order. There is no computer in sight.

For many years, Naleer did not have a printing machine so he outsourced the work. He was also unable to print colour, produce visiting cards and other fancy products.
Determined to improve his business, Naleer last year bought a bulky old printing press, more fitting for a museum. He was told that the electricity in his neighbourhood would be upgraded to run the press but it unfortunately this did not happen. As a result Naleer wasted Rs 200,000 ($2,000) on the old machine that now serves as a place to hang shirts and dump old papers.

Five months ago, Naleer, through his local mosque committee, learnt about Muslim Aid Sri Lanka’s Microfinance scheme for small entrepreneurs and applied for the loan. With his Rs 150,000, Naleer bought a new colour printing press capable of producing photographs, calendars and cards which means he can complete many of the jobs in house. He employs one person in addition to the four family members who work there and his  profit has doubled from Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000 a month.

“Now I can afford to send my three children for religious classes and to learn the computer so they can look forward to a better future,” he said.

He has also bought land on which he plans to build a house for his wife and three children by saving the added profit.

“Sometimes I do delay in paying the Rs 9,400 a month but I am always able to meet the payments in the end,” he said.

After settling his loan, Naleer wants to sell his two old machines and buy a new, more efficient one to serve the needs of the small businesses in the neighbourhood.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sri Tumini-Indonesia

Sri Tumini and her family survived a quake that killed more than 6,000 people and left thousands of Yogyakartan homeless but Sri Tumini and her husband, Joko Bini, still have a dream to provide a bright future for their children.

Sri worked as daily worker in local textile factory and her husband opened a small shop, selling drinks and homemade snacks. They made a small amount of money which was only enough to keep them from hunger. The couple had to take extra shifts to earn money to pay for their two son’s school fees.

“It’s only normal, when parents want their children to achieve a better life. I want my children to get proper education so they will not end up living in poverty,” said Sri.

One day, Joko decided to go look for a better job in Kalimantan. Joko sold his shop and used the money to buy a ticket to Kalimantan. There he worked as a labour in a fruit plantation.

On Saturday, 27 May 2006, when the Earthquake happened, Sri was going to take Eko, her youngest son for a shower, before she had to leave for work. Suddenly the furniture in her house rattled and the ground started to shake. Sri grabbed Eko and ran out of their house. Just as she was about to reach the door, the roof and the wall fell, Sri and Eko were buried under the rubbles of their house. Sri screamed for help but nobody could hear her, and finally she passed out because of the pain.

 “When I woke up, I was lying on a bed, in an emergency tent. And all I could think of was my children. The pain of not knowing where they were hurt much more than the pain. It was such a joy when I found out that they were okay,” told Sri.

The quake has changed everything. The family lost their home, their belongings and Sri was diagnosed with a severely broken backbone, she might never walk again.

A team of volunteer from Muslim Aid came to the village to do an assessment for its Housing for the Disabled programme, with the fund donated from The Quake Fund. The team found that sadly. Sri’s family had been living in a shelter made by pieces of bamboo that Joko could find among the ruins of their old house.

“The family did not have a proper home. They were sleeping on the ground, they did not have any toilet and when it rained, they would get soaked because the roof was made of dry leaves. Muslim Aid received a blessing from the The Quake Fund, and we channelled it to the people who need it most” said Fadlullah Wilmot, Country Director for Muslim Aid Indonesia.

Today, the building of the house has been finished. Sri and the family now have a proper house that they can call home. “We thank Mr. Wilmot who has been giving us moral support. My family can have a fresh start now and we are going to continue to pursue our dreams,” said Sri.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rizwana Ruby-Sri Lanka

Selling chickens and eggs is a vital lifeline for Rizwana Ruby to support an unemployed husband and young daughter.There is a great demand for her chickens as they are free-range and because she gives them natural medicines, free form chemicals.

 “They are tasty and healthy,” she said.

But although she has some experience managing the sale of her chickens, Rizwana had no knowledge of planning or financial management until she attended Muslim Aid Sri Lanka’s (MASL) entrepreneurship training conducted by the Enterprise Resource Centre (ERC). The training includes bookkeeping, computers, marketing, sales techniques, market linkages and business planning. The ERC is part of MASL’s rebuilding Mutur project, an integrated scheme helping residents to improve their lives. The ERC was established in partnership with AmeriCares.

“Now I can figure out my expenditure and what is most profitable,” she said.

Rizwana has realised that she can make more money selling small chicks rather than fully grown chickens that are expensive to feed and take months to grow.With her additional profits, she wants to buy a bigger cage so she can keep more chickens and chicks.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

S.A Lafir-Srl Lanka

When the residents of Sri Lanka’s eastern coastal town of Mutur escaped to safer areas to avoid fighting between government forces and separatist rebels, shops were looted, crops ruined and livestock lost. Even the cows of Mutur fled into the surrounding jungles and it was sometime before they could be brought back and re-trained as domestic animals.

For milk trader S.A. Lafir, they were difficult months where he had to think of alternative ways to support his wife and eight children. Slowly, he built up his milk business and today Lafir buys and sells between 30 to 50 cans of milk each day, depending on the season.

Before attending Muslim Aid Sri Lanka’s (MASL) entrepreneurship training conducted by the Enterprise Resource Centre (ERC), Lafir did not know how to run a business properly, diversify his products or deal with customers, suppliers and competitors.
The training included book keeping, computers, marketing, sales techniques, market linkages and business planning.

“Now with Muslim Aid’s guidance I am thinking of making yogurt,” he said.

His son has helped him to write a business plan and a strategy to deal with competititors as well as to increase the number of customers.

The ERC is part of MASL’s Rebuilding Mutur Project, an integrated scheme to help residents to improve their lives. The ERC was established in partnership with AmeriCares.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zahid Rasool- Pakistan

Zahid Rasool owns a small telephone and faxing business at a local market in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He is enthusiastic about his work, which involves making international and domestic calls for his customers; faxing and receiving documents; selling cell phones, as well as and phone and internet cards.

When he heard about Muslim Aid Pakistan’s (MAP) microfinance scheme for small entrepreneurs, Zahid decided to try his luck and apply for a loan to expand his business.

“When I went to Muslim Aid office with a guarantor, the staff helped me in a friendly and professional way. After checking everything, they processed my loan in a very short time. No collateral or security was required, just a reliable guarantor,” he explained.

Rasool used MAP’s loan of Rs 10,000 to buy an additional fax machine.

“My income has increased by Rs 4,000 monthly. This programme is really useful for small merchants like me. I would like to thank Muslim Aid for believing in me and granting me the loan to improve my small business,” he said.

Zahid will use the money to equip his shop with more machines and hire staff to help with the extra work load.With the profit he wants to buy more food as well as clothes and toys for his children.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yusnidar successfully sewing her future in Indonesia.

After 30 years of conflict, which ended in 2005 with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Indonesia’s most western province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is now beginning post-conflict recovery.

Muslim Aid which has been working in Aceh since January 2005  implementing its Destitute Women’s Rehabilitation Program (DWRP) in four areas of the province, Lam Pineung, Jeuneu, Montasik and Sibreh. The program aims to help women in conflict-affected areas by providing training, equipment and materials.

“This program is intended to provide the opportunity for the skills of Acehnese women to reach the market. The local economies, even the cottage industries, have almost been destroyed during thirty years of armed conflict in Aceh,” explained Fadlullah Wilmot, Country Director of Muslim Aid Indonesia.

Muslim Aid Indonesia’s livelihood team carried out a needs assessment in Ueeu Bada village in Montasik and found a group of women who sewed clothes as their main source of income. Yusnidar, one of the beneficiaries, lost her husband a year ago due to a motorcycle accident. After the death of her husband, Yusnidar had been struggling to provide for herself and her 10 year-old daughter, Nana.

 “During the conflict, we could not work because we were afraid of getting shot. And now although the war has stopped, a motorcycle accident killed my husband. I did not know what to do, I was really worried about how to provide for my family,” said Yusnida.
 
All the women had basic sewing skills but that they needed help in improving the quality of their products. A 6-day training course was provided for the women where ideas were exchanged and marketing strategies put into place.

 “The trainer took us to the market. We went to see the shop owners so that we could market our products direct. And now we have three shops that buy our products every month,” said Yusnida proudly.

Today, the group of five women in Montasik makes an average of 200 clothes every month,

“We received new sewing machines, sewing kits, embroidery kits and cloth from Muslim Aid. Before, we did not have any money to buy materials, but after Muslim Aid provided us with the initial capital, we were able to start production and now we can buy the material from our profits.” said Yusnida.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nuraini and Yusaini - Indonesia

“It looked like the end of the world, I raised my hand and prayed to God for mercy,” said Yusaini as he remembered the moment the devastating Tsunami hit Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam on 26 December 2006 destroying the livelihoods of thousands of people caught in its path. On that day, Nuraini (38) and her husband, Yusaini (41) were working in their carpentry shop when suddenly they saw people running and screaming- “Water! Water! A huge wave is coming!  Run! Run!” Grabbing their three children, they fled with the rest of the village-

“We ran so fast without even knowing what was going on. Everybody was screaming and crying, I was very scared,” added Nuraini.

They followed the crowd of fleeing residents and climbed up a hill. There they watched the tsunami sweep away everything they had ever known.

About three hours later when the water had receded, Yusaini asked permission from his wife to climb down the hill to see what remained of the house and carpentry shop. After he managed to convince Nuraini that he would be fine, he and a couple of other men went to check their homes. Astounded, they found everything they owned had been destroyed, leaving them with only the clothes on their backs.

 “I did not know how to tell my wife that we had lost everything,” said Yusaini.

The Muslim Aid  team arrived in the village shortly afterwards to implement its Micro Finance program. Nurain and Yusainii, along with 19 others were selected to receive a soft loan to help rebuild their lives.  They were given an initial loan of Rp.1,000,000 which helped re-establish the family carpentry business.

“My husband and I were so happy that we got soft loan from Muslim Aid. We had been looking for some funds to buy the materials to enable us to re-start our carpentry shop,” said Nuraini. She has also paid back the loan and is now eligible for another to further expand the business.

Today, Nuraini employs three workers to help out in the carpentry shop. According to Yusaini, the shop makes around Rp. 3,000,000 (approximately £188) net profit per month,

“I’m going to open a fruit stall next to the carpentry shop so we can earn extra money. I’m glad it has all worked out, at least we are now back on track, thanks to Muslim Aid,” said Nuraini gleefully.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sherina Nasir- Sri Lanka

Despite having a husband working in the private sector and running a food business from her home, 24 year-old Sherina Nasir was struggling to plan a future. The escalating cost of living in Sri Lanka, coupled with 2 small children was proving increasingly difficult.

“We were just able to make ends meet but it was impossible either to expand production or to save,” she said.

Sherina decided to start a second business buying material from the market and sewing sheets and pillow cases which she sells to her neighbours. The profits though were small and without a sewing machine Sharia was forced to outsource her work. Sherina heard about a microfinance programme run by Muslim Aid Sri Lanka Field Office (MASL) in her suburb of Slave Island. With the loan she received a month ago, Sherina is managing to save small amounts towards buying her own machine as well as saving for her children’s education.

“I use the loan money to buy the material and thread and also to pay electricity bills,” she explained. “I collect payment from my customers at the end of the month but I need cash daily.”

Sherina sees the monthly repayments to MASL as a saving that she would not otherwise be making.

“I have no room to store materials and finished products or to cut and sew properly, I need to have my own space” said Sherina, who shares her small house with extended family.

She plans to take more loans in the future. “I am very satisfied with its microfinance programme. I am very happy that Muslim Aid doesn’t charge any interest.” she added.

MASL and its partner, Amana Investments Limited, launched their unique microfinance scheme for small scale entrepreneurs in Colombo in September last year.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rizna Razooniya, Sri Lanka

Five years ago, 37 year-old Rizna Razooniya and her husband had a thriving business selling bread, pastries, cakes and buns to neighbourhood shops and offices in Slave Island, a suburb of Sri Lanka’s busy capital Colombo. The couple also had their own outlet and a fully equipped kitchen. They lived a comfortable life with a healthy income, sending their two children to private schools so that they could have a good education. The third child was still an infant.

Then her husband died unexpectedly and Rizna could no longer manage the booming business by herself. Orders dropped away when she went into mourning for four months and soon she was forced to give up the shop, sell some equipment and restart her bakery business on a small scale from home. “I struggled to find money to buy flour, sugar and butter everyday as well as to pay monthly gas and electricity bills. Although my orders grew, I could not manage the cash flow. The cost of everything was always rising,” she said.

Reluctant to approach banks or money lenders, Rizna was able to scrape together some money from relatives to buy a small mixing machine and set up a tiny bakery in the front of her house. Her brother helped with school books and uniforms but he also suffered from declining fortunes and was unable continue his assistance.

As Rizna was wondering how to turn her business around and keep her children in good schools, she heard about Muslim Aid Sri Lanka Field Office’s microfinance programme through the local mosque. She applied for a loan of 50,000 rupees (£235), which she used to buy raw materials and two subsequent loans. In the four months since she received the loan, Rizna has been able to increase her monthly profit by 30,000 rupees (£140). She employs four staff to help her in the cooking and has expanded her business to supply shops, schools, cinemas, courts and banks in the area.

“I need a vehicle to deliver orders, a bigger oven and more baking trays. I also need space to store supplies,” said Rizna, adding, “I’m very happy that Muslim Aid gave me a second chance in life to build up my business with interest-free loans.”

Rizna also receives regular advice of budgeting and marketing from Muslim Aid’s Community Mobiliser who visits her regularly.

Muslim Aid and its partner, Amana Investments Limited, launched their unique microfinance scheme for small scale entrepreneurs in Colombo in September last year.

Abdul Raheem Ikshan, Batticaloa

In 2004, Abdul Raheem Ikshan was barely managing to feed his family of five. As a weaver in Sri Lanka's Batticaloa District famous for its colourful handmade garments, Ikshan worked for a loom owner who paid him a pittance for long hours of hard work.   

Then tragedy struck in the shape of a giant wave that swept away his loom, equipment and materials. The same wave also engulfed his wife and four children under the age of nine. Ikshan was knocked unconscious but woke up unharmed on top of a building. Surrounded by the swirling waters, he clung on until he was rescued several hours later.

For the next few months Ikshan struggled to rebuild his life and his livelihood. When he heard that the Marathumunai Development  Company for People, which was in existence before the tsunami, was looking for weavers to rebuild the shattered industry with assistance from Muslim Aid Australia, he immediately applied and received a new loom, equipment, accessories and raw materials to get him started. Today he has expanded to eight looms, four that he operates with his new wife and four that he has contracted out to other weavers.

“I am happy that Muslim Aid stepped forward to rebuild our industry,” he said.

Marathumunai residents living in Australia collected 2.6 million rupees (about £13,000) to restore the livelihoods of 50 weavers who lost everything that December morning. Muslim Aid Sri Lanka (MASL) stepped in with additional funds and loaned the company a further one million rupees to expand so that it did not have to pay the high interest rates demanded by commercial banks.

"We are thankful for the loan. MASL has also been helpful in establishing markets and encouraging us to take part in many textile and garment exhibitions,” said company chairman A.R.A. Aziz. At present the company has a steady order for making saris for teachers in the Education Department.

Muslim Aid Sri Lanka also entered a Marathumunai weaver in a competition organised by the Women's Chamber of Industry in Colombo. Ayesha Ummar, proud winner of the silver award in her category of best start up business after the tsunami, also received new looms under Muslim Aid's programme. Before the tsunami she worked for a loom owner but now she had five looms and employees of her own.

“Until I die I will be grateful to Muslim Aid for giving me the looms to start again. I am leading a good life and I was able to educate my children, who are all doing well," she said.

Hena, Bangladesh

Ever since she was eight, twenty five year old Hena has been working as a maid sweeping floors and cooking meals for those more privileged than her.  

Trapped in a cycle of poverty, Hena was forced to send her children to her village to live with her mother as she worked two jobs, living in a tiny rented room in the teeming suburb of Kayallanpur. Hena earns just $15 a month.

Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest countries where, according to UNDP figures, 49.8% of people live below the national poverty line and 36% survive on less than one dollar a day.

But thanks to Muslim Aid Bangladesh Field Office, Hena can at least look forward to a better life for her children and for herself.

Under the Destitute Women Rehabilitation Project (DWRP), Hena is learning not only an income-generating skill but is also receiving the basic education she missed out on in childhood - how to read, write and do arithmetic. She is learning about health, hygiene, sanitation and human rights.

Most importantly, the four month tailoring course she has almost completed with enable Hena to bring her children to Dhaka and send them to school with the money she will earn using her new skills.

"I can make clothes using the sewing machine provided by Muslim Aid and sell them in the market. I am very grateful that I have this chance to start a new life," she said.

Hena is one of the 250 desperately poor unskilled women who have been able to transform their lives since DWRP began in early 2006. The women are trained in tailoring, embroidery, hand-painting and block printing. Those who have never gone to school are taught reading, writing, numeracy and life skills. After their training, the women receive sewing machines so they can start their own businesses. Others are employed in the project's production centre.

Fatimah Begum is the chief designer working with two others to make their own line called "Aadi". The colourful embroidered, printed and hand-painted clothes and bags are sold in shops and at exhibitions and fairs across the country. Orders are also taken from shops.

"The project is successful; 90% of the women we have trained so far have their own businesses or are working for us making a reasonable wage," she said. "The women learn about us through our leaflets and community visits and from others who have gone through the project."

Hasina Aktar, Bangladesh

One year ago, 28 year-old Hasina Aktar was barely managing to support her sick husband and daughter on the paltry salary she made sewing for a contractor. Having left school when she was 12 to support the family, Hasina had only a basic education and no proper skills. After the four months of training with the DWRP, Hasina was taking orders for sewing from her home and later started working at the project. She is now the Assistant Production Supervisor and has been able to buy a small grocery shop for her husband and arrange a tutor for her child. She still sews at home as well.

"Although other organisations have training programmes, only Muslim Aid gives us a sewing machine. I am happy because now I am not dependent on my husband or my family but I can earn my own livelihood," she said.