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SPBD celebrates $30m milestone |
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Twenty nine thousand clients and $30million worth of investment were reasons enough for the South Pacific Business Development Programme to celebrate.
The micro-finance organisation celebrated its 10th anniversary in Samoa last week.
SPBD’s mission is to improve the quality of life of people living in poverty. Samoa is one of its first markets.
It provides small, unsecured loans to groups of rural women. Women invest their loans into businesses based on their existing livelihood skills.
SPBD’s philosophy of lending is based on a respect for each individual’s innate human ingenuity, drive and self esteem.
 It is these qualities which make people credit worthy, not the collateral which traditional banks demand. By providing access to capital, SPBD allows women and their families to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential.
SPBD Founder, Gregory Casagrande said he was pleased to have been able to help Samoans.
“We encourage the women to keep up the successful work because their hands are full of blessings and so they’ve inspired me and the SPBD to work along with them,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni thanked SPDB on behalf of the government and the people of Samoa.
“SPBD shared so
me of it’s blessings to the some of the poorest people of our country and this is so much appreciated, this is such a huge helping hand,” Misa said.
He congratulated the women assisted by the SPBD for being honest and hard working.
“Thank you for the assistance you have given to the tsunami victims and also the way you’re helping the mothers of our country,” Misa said.
Misa presented a gift to Mr Casagrande as a gesture of appreciation for his help.
The SPBD has helped hundreds of poor Samoans launch or significantly expand a wide variety of small businesses.
These businesses are all based around existing livelihood skills. They are businesses which the poor implicitly understand and at which they can be a success.
Usually the one thing holding them back is availability of cash to make a few strategic purchases to launch the business and some ongoing guidance and encouragement.
That is where SPBD comes in. A sampling of SPBD member initiated micro-businesses includes:
• Small plantations and vegetable gardens,
• Chicken and pig farms, Cow farms,
• Banana chip, taro chip and potato chip manufacture,
• Copra production (from the meat of a coconut, used in skin care products),
• Clothing production and repair,
• Weaving of fine mats, bags, hats, baskets, etc.,
• Beach fales (small exotic tourist accomodations) operators
• Fishing and vending,
• Food preparation and distribution,
• Roadside and market place trading and vending,
• Taxi operators,
• Distributors transporting produce and items into Apia from the village,
• Village lawn maintenance services,
• Bingo operators. Back
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