A passion for knitting turned into a successful business for 42-year-old Latipah in South Sumatra, with the help of a small loan from one of Opportunity's local partners in Indonesia.

Latipah’s mother taught her how to knit when she was just a small child.

Since I was little, I’ve always loved knitting... It continued until now, even after having a family, a child, a husband.”

Her husband Bambang works in construction and the family struggled financially. His income was minimal, and they needed more if they were to send their daughter Divi to school.

_{Bambang, Divi and Latipah’s lives are easier now thanks to a small loan.}

 At first, Latipah knitted purely for her own enjoyment and made bags for herself. One day when she was out, someone asked where she got her bag from.

“I told her I made it, then she asked me if I could make her one, so I did,” said Latipah.

Word spread in the village and Latipah had people knocking on her door asking for custom-made knitted bags. That’s when Latipah realised she could turn her passion into a business.

A friend of hers told her about Opportunity’s local microfinance partner Bina Artha Ventura (BAV), and she applied for a small loan. The loan was used to buy materials such as yarn, buttons, zippers, knitting needles and metal rings.

_{Latipah turned her passion for knitting into a successful business.}

“When I knit, I can sit for hours,” said Latipah. “I start at 8am until sunset, then I pray and take a short break. After that, I continue knitting until late at night, getting two or three done. If I start in the morning and no one disturbs me, I can make up to four bags.”

Latipah received her loan through the new BAV branch in Tugumulyo, South Sumatra, funded by a group of generous Australian Opportunity supporters who joined together to fund branches in hard-to-reach areas of Indonesia.

Three new branches were opened in 2023 in South Sumatra, collectively supporting 1,876 women and families with small loans. Twenty-three new jobs were created, hiring people as loan officers, branch managers and administrative staff.

This program is supported by the Australian Government through the NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).