26 PEOPLE COMPLETE BASIC FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING IN EHP

U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) supports training of 26 people in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province to improve their financial literacy skills.

Local financial literacy trainer, Linda Pekosi who is certified through USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program’s partnership with Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI), helped train the 26 participants in the basics of financial literacy.

Now, they have a better understanding of saving and budgeting, which are the foundational skills for creating new enterprises and increasing household and personal financial security, particularly for women.

On November 11, representatives from the USAID’s Lukautim Gruan Program were present in Goroka to personally congratulate participants who completed the course.

Participant, Marlene Makarai, owner of Baret Lodge located in Goroka town, said “Although, I make enough money from the guest house, I lack discipline in saving and this training has taught me to be disciplined in my spending as well. Thank you, USAID for facilitating this training”.

Rachael Aputi, a civil engineer with Eastern Highlands Provincial Works Division said “I learnt a lot through this training, but the one thing that stands out for me is saving money through sacrifice and cutting down on unnecessary spendings. Prior to attending this training, I was getting ready for a bank loan to pay for my child’s school fees. But after attending this training, I believe I can raise K4,000.00 through savings, thank you, USAID”.

The training is part of USAID’s commitment to support women in PNG so they can fully participate in the formal economy and access financial services like banking and small-scale village savings and loan schemes to expand their livelihood activities.

USAID and its implementing partners continue to empower people in rural communities to access economic opportunities that improve their livelihood prospects.

USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program is a five-year program implemented in collaboration with Care International, The Nature Conservancy, the PNG Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Woodland Park Zoo, and the Wildlife Conservation Society.