Hard work and sacrifice have paid off for mother-of-nine Asinate Varo.
Her small market vending business started in 2021 when her husband lost his job as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Today, Mrs Varo is taking the lead for iTaukei women running micro, small and medium businesses in Lautoka and Nadi.
Since becoming a market vendor, Mrs Varo has managed to put her children through school and university, build and expand her home in Legalega and open a canteen.
“I believe one of my biggest motivations is seeing the little sacrifices I make pay off,” she said.
“I make sure my children see that when we make a sacrifice today, it will pay off later down the road.
“All we need to do is stay committed to achieving that end goal while relying on God, your family and belief in yourself that you can achieve that result.”
Mrs Varo said starting a business could be daunting, especially when deciding to take a loan.
“A lot of us, and I mean iTaukei, are afraid of taking loans.
“We stay away from it because we see it as a negative thing, but I see it as something that will help you achieve what you need, especially if you have a business.”
This mind-set has allowed her to make strategic decisions as a businesswoman.
“I had heard about SPBD (South Pacific Business Development) and that they offered loans for small businesses. I have relatives who’ve benefited a lot from them.
“So, when my children started high school and I saw that our expenses would only increase when they left school and got into university, I decided very earlier on to take a loan and start a small canteen while running my market vendor business.
“Their help not only went to our small business, but they also offered education assistance and even housing improvement.
“That was one of the main reasons I was motivated to go for the loan they offered.”
She was recognised by SPBD for her recent loan of $20,250 which tipped the scale of total loans by the company to $125million — a milestone achievement that warranted a celebration in Lautoka in August this year.
Described by SPBD as a respected member of her community, the company celebrated Mrs Varo for her vision to support her family through honest, hard work.
“Through perseverance and discipline, she has managed to consistently grow her business while maintaining a good savings record and consistent attendance at centre meetings,” the company said in a statement.
“Asinate is known for her humble nature, strong values and quiet leadership within her centre. She takes pride in fulfilling her responsibilities, not only as a businesswoman but as a community member who leads by example.”
The recognition was achieved only with the support of her family and her faith in God.
“You don’t depend on anyone else. And most importantly, serving a real God who leads the way for me and my family is why I am here today.
“If there is something I want to tell our women, especially our iTaukei women, I want to tell them that we serve a living God who we believe will be there for us.
“We must activate that faith to take us through whatever we go through in life.”
