Ibu Rukayah and her healthy calf, Suka Makmur-Aceh Besar

Ibu Rukayah borrowed IDR 1,000,000.00 from Pekka's social fund (BLM) fund to buy a calf. After it matured she sold it for IDR 4,000,000.00 . Then she borrowed funds of, IDR 2,000,000.00 in order to buy her next calf. Now, with the cow already large and fat, Ibu wonders she will make from a sale this time?

Ibu Aminah (105) the oldest PEKKA member in Suka Makmur - Aceh Besar
Ibu Aminah is unarguably the most senior member of PEKKA in Tampoek Blang village. Her kids are, of course, grown up but she has had the misfortune to live through the death of one of her daughters at age 40. Now, Ibu Aminah lives with her youngest daughter. Since she is no longer able to work, she receives food support from the social fund (BLM).

PEKKA routine meeting in BLM meeting hall, Suka Makmur-Aceh Besar
Built with Pekka’s BLM funds, this is where the Bantimoh group hold their regular meetings. PEKKA women discuss the cash flow of their savings and loans, hold Islamic studies, share good farming practices, cooking recipes as well as conduct  courses on  household skills, women’s reproductive health and a range of issues.

Ibu Kamsirah, from two goats to seven, Suka Makmur-Aceh Besar
Ibu Kamsirah borrowed PEKKA BLM funds of IDR 1.000,000.00 to buy two goats and build their pens. After six months, she sold the goats for IDR 1.500,000.00. The money was then added to a second loan to buy another goat and they have now multiplied to a total of seven.

Ibu Mariani, Suka Makmur-Aceh Besar
Ibu Mariani refused to quit when she lost her business to the tsunami. She is a widow. Her husband died when she was pregnant with her now nine-year old daughter. She joined PEKKA in 2002 and has since learned to read,write and do book keeping. In fact, she is now entrusted with the responsibility of being the groups’ bookkeeper. She could not repay the loan she took to buy a cow that was swept away by the tsunami, so she runs her brother’s grocery store today. In true PEKKA spirit, she initiated a group business in rice trading at the store, using the still unused BLM funds.

Ibu Mariani, Suka Makmur-Aceh, Besar
“I used to make my living by doing anything that came my way... working in farms, cutting grass, weaving fronds, anything."

Ibu Mariani, Suka Makmur-Aceh, Besar
"Now, after getting the starting capital from PEKKA, I can open my own vendor stand in the market, rent land, and raise ducks,” said Ibu Mariani , who has become the breadwinner in her family after her husband was paralysed. She owns a kiosk in the market which her husband helps to run while she buys stocks and groceries, takes care of the ducks and make salted eggs in season. Her brood of ducks has grown from 10 to 60 and her kiosk's sales volume has reached Rp 300.000 per day. In addition,she has also managed to buy a 1,300- square meter piece of land.