1260 NASAVUSAVU SECONDARYSCHOOL

FIJI YEAR TWELVE CERTIFICATEEXAMINATION

2014

ENGLISH RESEARCH PROJECTS

TOPIC

HELPING WOMENS OF SAVUSAVU FIGHTAGAINST POVERTY

AIM/OBJECTIVES

To create a network of developments and Training Programs for Rural and Women Entrepreneurship Assistance in Savusavu to empower women through financial access and economic development to lift themselves and their families permanantlly out of povertyand improve self-esteem.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

DECLARATION OF ORIGIALITY

TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

THE SAVUSAVU BRANCH OFFICE AND STAFFS

STAFFS OF SAVUSAVU BRANCH

ABOUT SPBD

South Pacific Business Development is a network of Microfinance institutions working in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga to eliminate poverty. Its aim is to provide women in poor rural villages with the opportunity to start, grow and maintain sustainable income-generating micro-enterprises, build assets through saving as wellas finance home improvements and childhood education. SPBD also provides its clients with a range of training, financial servicesand ongoing motivation so that they can climb permanently out of poverty.

OUR VISION

To create a network of micro-enterprise development organizationsin the South Pacific and neighbouring regions to empower women through financial access and economic development to lift themselves and their families permanantlly out of poverty and improve self-esteem.

OUR MISSION

SPBD improves the quality of life of families living in poverty by providing unsecured credit, training and ongoing guidance and motivation to help them start, grow and maintain micro-businesses, build assets, as well as finance home improvements and childhood education.

SPBD offers the following products and services:

1. Small unsecured loans of approximately USD400 for micro-businesses, housing improvement and children's education

2. SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) loans between USD3,000 andUSD6,500

3. OWL or Overseas Worker Loans for workers who travel to New Zealand and Australia for 4 months to do manual labor

4. Simple and small balance savings services to build-up funds for future needs

5. Training (financial and business) and on-going guidance6. In-house loan insurance which covers clients' outstanding

loans with SPBD in case of death7. Life Insurance to clients and their spouses designed to

decrease the financial burden on the family of the deceased8. Mobile money services in Fiji in partnership with Vodafone.

Who are SPBD's clients?

SPBD serves women living in both rural and peri-urban areas who are vulnerable to the consequences of poverty. These include single mothers, the unemployed, minorities, the poor in health, the disabled, the unbanked, minorities, and potential victims of domestic violence. Of the total number of loans distributed:

99% go to women 80% go to clients living in rural areas 40% go to single mothers 100% go to the unemployed

SPBD expects to see a positive ripple-effect flowing through to the formal economy and society at large as more micro-businesses are started and more individuals gain access to work in the formal economy.

SPBD client with her handicraft.

SPBD SAVUSAVU

Has worked so hard to get to the clients door steps. Freetraining is provided for new clients .Clients has to attend afive session training done by centre Managers. Spbd clients areadvised that no payment of loans, Loan application, deposits ofsavings are done at the office. They provide a very convenient

service to the ladies of savusavu .