Page 5 - SPBD Dec 2021

SPBD Fiji 2020 SPBD Fiji 2020

Ultimately, we need to be people of action. People • financial education,
of doing. We need to be engaged to make our • small business skills training, and
businesses improve and succeed, and to see real • ongoing guidance, encouragement and
genuine progress for ourselves, for our families motivation.
and for Fiji.
This education is sustained with our clients use of
Finally, I’d like for you to keep in mind the virtue of standardised, high-quality, financial booklets which
gratitude. Please know that gratitude and attitude provide heaps of quality financial advice as well as
are not challenges, they are choices. We choose to places to record business plans, business revenues,
be grateful. We choose to have a positive attitude. expenses and profits, household expenses, major
asset purchases, insurance coverage and savings.
And so with that in mind, I know that we can all
recall that “this is the day the Lord has made, let By SPBD pooling together for our clients:
us rejoice and be glad.” • a simplified financial education,
Today I am very proud to say that after 10 years • a personal financial diary,
of work, in Fiji, we now have worked with over • tailored financial services such as
10,000 successful micro-entrepreneurs, spread micro-savings, micro-credit and
across nearly every village on Viti Levu, Vanua micro-insurance,
Levu, Ovalau and Taveuni and we have provided • a small business venture and
them with over FJD$75 million of unsecured credit. • heaps of ongoing guidance.
Our women entrepreneurs can learn and
Across the broader SPBD Microfinance Network,
including Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands and permanently absorb the critical financial skills they
Vanuatu, we have now provided over FJD$420 need to improve the operations of their businesses
million in unsecured financing to help over 85,000 and the financial long-term well-being of their
women micro-entrepreneurs to start and grow families.
small income generating businesses. That is what being enlightened and empowered is
all about.
Whether it is here in Fiji or elsewhere in the

Pacific, these are women who are investing in their To me, all our clients who each day are working
businesses, in their homes and in their children’s hard at their micro-businesses to generate extra
education. income for their families and to build savings for a
bright future are winners.
These are women who are saving and building
their business assets and their households’ assets. Prior to signing off, I would like to remind you of
And these are women who are building a brighter three items that I often say.
future for their families. The first is to keep your dreams alive. Pursue them
SPBD has been a strong and early advocate and every day. Having your children obtain a complete
practitioner of financial inclusion. education should be part of that dream.
Financial inclusion is about bringing meaningful Secondly, is the importance of saving and
access of helpful financial products and services to investing. Make a habit of saving each week. And
all people regardless of their economic position or then invest in your businesses, in your children’s
status in life. education and in the healthiness of your home.
These investments will yield long-term benefits.
Specifically, for SPBD here in Fiji, it means that
village-based women can: And finally seek to lead. Lead your business.
• take out a loan to start a small, income Lead your children. For great leadership training
generating business, or opportunities look at taking up roles within your
• she can use a savings account to grow her SPBD Group and your SPBD Centre. Your Group
assets, or and your Centre need your leadership. Please get
• she can use a micro-insurance product to insure involved.
her family in the event of a calamity.
I want you to know that I am so proud of all of you.
Furthermore, for SPBD, providing financial Keep up the great work and keep your dreams
inclusion and literacy/education also means alive.
providing our ladies with:
Vinaka Vakalevu!

5