Family celebrates final loan repayment

Business

WIDOW Solange Malani and her family are celebrating after making the final payment for a truck they bought through a loan from the National Development Bank in 2015.
The mother of six girls and a boy now operates her own public motor vehicle truck to transport passengers from Apanaipi in Mekeo, Central, where they live, to Hisiu and back.
She became the sole breadwinner after her husband died followed by one of her daughters. With the help of her daughters, she started a trade store.
They saved enough money to provide the equity for a loan from the NDB to purchase a truck in 2015 through the Women in Business desk.
Her nephew drove the vehicle while her two older daughters took turns as crew members.
The truck travels to Hisiu and returns to Apanaipi village the next day.
They visited the NDB Boroko branch recently to pay off the balance.
Daughter Lynn, on behalf of her mother and the family, said they experienced the struggle to operate a business. She attributed their success to God.
Her advice to women is that here is money in the PMV business.
“You just need the right crew and know what your goal is,” she said.
“As a public motor vehicle owner you need to be disciplined and if it’s a family affair, everyone needs to cooperate and get their priorities right.”