Releasing the Talents of the Poor in Jakarta, Indoneisa with Microcredit

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Summary of Need

This Christian microenterprise development (CMED) program in Jakarta is improving not only the livelihood of the very poor congregations of the Anglican Church in Jakarta, but is also reaching out to other needy members of the communities that surround each church. With funding support from Five Talents International, the expatriate Anglican community of All Saints Church in Jakarta,

Abu Atni Indonesia

and the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, a new foundation entitled GERHATI has been created to carry out this mission. After only half a year in operation (July 2005), the GERHATI FOUNDATION had provided start-up loans to four groups of micro-entrepreneurs, assisting 66 members (42 women, 24 men) in building new lives.

The microenterprise development programs will help the Anglican community congregations to be financially self sufficient. Equally important, they will provide an effective outreach to the neighboring Muslim communities in order to build relationships in an often tense and hostile environment. In addition, the CMED program will provide much-needed jobs for Christians who sometimes face employment discrimination.

Five Talents’ role in establishing this program in Jakarta began with the orientation and initial training of the team in Jakarta that was organized by the leader of the Indonesian Church, the Rev. Agustinus Titi, and the Vicar of All Saints Church, the Rev. Dale Appleby. A board drawn from the indigenous Anglican Church has been formed and is working with a committee of expatriate All Saints church members to fulfill their vision of strengthening the local church.

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Program Discription
The Sitoempuls are one example of a family in need of loans. Mr. Sitoempuls is a taxi driver but does not earn enough even to cover the rent of a house for his family. On a good day he makes $5 to $6, sometimes working 48 hours straight. To generate extra income the family stuffs filling into colorful mats used for sleeping. A retail agent sells them the mats. Income based on the number of mats they stuff may reach $50 per month. A loan from GERHATI will allow the family to buy the mats directly, increasing their profit! The loan program also will mean many families will not be beholden to the loan sharks and credit cooperatives that charge 20% in interest each month. The community has three Anglican “house” churches which meet once during the week and on Sunday at local community center.

People targeted and project goals

The program will focus its efforts on two communities in Jakarta as a pilot: Bekasi and Cipayung. The majority of the recipients will be women at the lowest income levels. It will provide the financial and technical assistance necessary to help participants maintain and develop their businesses.

Project duration and specific means of achieving project goals

Five Talents will achieve these objectives through a group-lending program offering small loans to the female entrepreneurs in the community. The average individual loan is projected to be $100. The loan period is 5 months at 2.5 percent interest per month. The local church will provide spiritual development, using Bible studies based on the parable of the talents. The hope is that the church will be seen as a light into the community, and that the MED program, through its outreach, will help the church to grow.

indonesia food seller

How you can help

Five Talents International is seeking the help of individuals and churches in our efforts to serve the poor. In 2010, Five Talents is raising $130,000 for the MED program in Jakarta.

Here’s what your contribution will do:

• On average one job is created per every $100 loaned.

• Each job supports about nine people.

• A gift of $1,000 in the first year provides as many as 20 jobs because the money is loaned out twice.

• That means 120 people may be supported.

Help us break the cycle of dependency by supporting the Five Talents International Jakarta, Indonesia program. You will be fighting poverty, creating jobs and transforming lives!