Small businesses helping lift West Papuans out of Poverty
28/06/2010 6:11:51 PM
Lucas Bukorpyoper runs his own business with help from Act for Peace's partner in West Papua
Small business enterprise is a fledgling market in West Papua, though one with enormous potential in bringing economic benefits to the lives of the indigenous population. Traditionally, West Papuans residing in the lowland areas have engaged in subsistence farming (sago and cassava and soybeans), pig husbandry and fishing as the main source of livelihood. Productivity and market access have been limited by a range of factors including the influx of non-indigenous migrants from other regions of Indonesia (which now constitute almost half the total population) and a general lack of an entrepreneurial ethos in their day to day work patterns. This has contributed to high levels of poverty in the region and a general lack of opportunities for income generation and broader skill development.
The city of Sorong in the Birds Head Peninsula of West Papua has emerged as a frontier town in the region supporting the growth of the surrounding oil and gas regions. Unfortunately, despite being the wealthiest of provinces in terms of natural resources, it is stricken by the highest rates of poverty and the failure of Special Autonomy legislation and funding to trickle down to the community level.
The church is playing a vital role in addressing these desperate circumstances in West Papua. Through the work of Act for Peace partner, the Christian NGO Network in Indonesia (CNNI), community members are gaining vital skills required to effectively run their own businesses and take more positive steps towards economic sustainability. With support from GKI Papua, the Evangelical Christian Church in West Papua, JKLPK has been able to run small scale business training with local Papuans focusing on managing resources, bookkeeping and improving market access.
Lucas Bukorpyoper previously worked running a motorcycle taxi in and around Sarong city. The work was inconsistent, not generating enough to support his family and leaving him and is wife constantly on the look out for more sustainable employment opportunities. After receiving training through CNNI and with start up capital provided by his Protestant church, Lucas was able to establish a small kiosk selling staple supplies including fruits and vegetables, kitchen items and a range of foodstuffs and other consumables. The kiosk was opened in April 2009, but it has flourished since the business development training provided by CNNI in 2010. Lucas and his wife have worked long shifts at the kiosk in order to grow their business. Together, they liaise with companies wanting to sell their goods, check the market for new products, manage inventory and account for sales. The permanent nature of the work has given Lucas great confidence and satisfaction with his decision to learn new business skills, ‘It’s very helpful and meaningful. It’s changed my life to manage this store’.
Other church supported ventures in the Sorong region including fish farms, brick production and mini markets prove that given the right opportunities, people can lift themselves up and out of poverty stress. Importantly, the church must remain a key driver of this process to ensure that indigenous Papuans turn business opportunities into market leadership.
