CO-OP MICROFINANCE HELPS SINGLE MUM

Sarafina Burekalou is a single mum with 5 children who sells at the Labasa Market in Fiji. Sarafina joined Co-operative Microfinance project in 2010 and since then she has been an active saver. Through her market business Sarafina has successfully got her children educated and four of them have married.

According to Sarafina, she has been in business for the past 20 year but she was unable to save as she usually used all she earned in repurchasing her stock or spending on the family. However since joining the Co-operative Microfinance Project she has been able to have a passbook of her own and has a net savings of $800.00.

She has also taken 3 loans worth 1500.00 of which 2 loans worth $1000.00 has been repaid. The loans were for the expansion of her business.  Sarafina has now made a point to deposit $10.00 every day and targets to increase her savings by $3000.00 by the end of the year.

“I am very happy to be part of Co-operative Microfinance Project.  I am able to save and can get loans very easily and quickly.  I have also encouraged my fellow vendors to join the programme and improve their livelihood” says Sarafina.

Co-operative Microfinance has continued to provide the much needed microfinance services to the people of the Northern Town of Fiji.