Siam only went to school until grade 5 of primary school. Before joining MBK, Siam operated a small food stall in front of her house. In 2006 Siam joined MBK to increase her working capital, which she could repay in small weekly instalments.

She used her first loan size of Rp. 500,000 (USD 55) to increase her small business. In her second year, she used part of her loan to construct a permanent kiosk, and part to buy goods to sell. Siam says she her life has changed much since obtaining additional working capital from MBK. From her income, Siam was able to renovate her house. Her house floor is now fully tiled, and the house walls are plastered and painted.

Now Siam’s child is in grade 2 of junior high school. Siam hopes that her child can continue to school. She also hopes to obtain a larger loan of 4 million (USD 430) to increase the range of goods she sells in her kiosk, and to fund her husband’s business of selling salted fish in the market. Her friends in the centre also feel the same about the financial assistance provided by MBK.