kerekere

I am finally working on a project with the microfinance bank I came here to work with (SPBD). Even though I only have two weeks left, I'm hoping that I can contribute something good to the company so they can better serve the women in Fiji. Their model is a group borrowing model where 8-20 women make groups (called centres), borrow however much they need for their business (this is a tedious process for them - they don't just ask for money and SPBD gives it), then pay back their loans. If a lady can not pay it is up to her centre to come up with the money to cover for her. This doesn't happen too often but when it does the woman must pay double the next week. 

Anyway, there are centre managers who are employees of SPBD who spend M-Th traveling to each centre and collecting the money for the week. I have been able to travel around with them for the past two days and meet some of the women and see how the collections work. This also gave me a chance to interview women for a project I am completing for SPBD. 

One question that I have been asking (for my own interest really) is "What are some issues you have in your business?" I keep getting the same answer and I have a feeling it is a them among developing countries. In Fijian it can be explained solely by the term "kerekere." "Kere" in English means "please". Now put on your best puppy dog face and say, "please please" or "kerekere." That is exactly what is causing so many of these womens' businesses to fail. Their families or friends are also struggling to make ends meet so they will kerekere a business woman for her money, chickens she raised, roti she made, etc., and the business woman slowly loses inventory without making any money. 

It is sad to see such bright and capable women flounder in their businesses because of a cultural norm that seems nearly impossible to break. We have been trying to teach them about cash flow and margins in business but another major topic has been the ability to say no and explain why to their family and friends. 

I hope that something I'm doing here is making a difference. The fascinating thing about development work is that most of the women are quite bright and should be able save money from their business yet cultural issues (kerekere and also the lack of saving mentality) are what keep women from success. How do you change an entire country to understand the value of earning (and keeping) your own money? No wonder there are so many theories and model to alleviating poverty in the developing world. 

This was one centre of women I got to talk to. They were all so great and motivated to expand and improve their businesses.