Meet Good Return’s newest partner, Credit Union Keling Kumang

Keling Kumang, Good Return’s new partner in Indonesia, is a credit union which serves members in West Kalimantan.

Keling Kumang refers to a folk story about a “strong husband and strong wife” who work together to build a strong community. And from its humble beginnings, the members of Keling Kumang have made their own folk story – growing to a community of over 110,000 strong. From Mr Yohannes, the General Manager, who received the credit union’s second loan to attend university, to today where thousands of members turn up to each branch’s pre-Annual General Meeting.

During my time here I have been invited to participate in 5 of these pre-AGMs. Women, men and children from the surrounding area attend the day’s festivities which include speeches from dignatories, musical entertainment usually in the form of karaoke, and free food. And of course, endless satu-ee-satu (one-by-one) photos with the visiting Australian.

The pre-AGM at Keling Kumang’s headquarters included the unveiling of the first “Business Development Centre” (BDC). Keling Kumang saw that many of their members sold products that other members would want to buy, but there was no way for buyers and sellers to reach other. Seeing an opportunity, Keling Kumang decided to build a mini market where members could come to sell their wares to other members.

Also under construction is a traditional “Dayak” or indigenous village. Modelled on a similar village across the border in Malaysia, Keling Kumang hopes that the village will attract tourists to the area, improving sales at the BDC.

Mr Yohannes also tells me that they hope the village will preserve some of their native indigenous culture for years to come. Which all ties in well with Keling Kumang’s slogan “Invictus” – “Never dies” in Latin, I am told.

Never dies indeed.

 

Monique is the Sustainable Energy Field Coordinator and is currently working in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.