On the remote island of Rote in Indonesia, the options for employment are limited. Aranci, a married mother of five children, and her husband Abraham struggled financially. They couldn’t afford meat, milk or even rice. Heartbreakingly, they also had to pull two of their children out of school before they graduated primary school.

Determined to change things for their family, Aranci started growing seaweed in the waters near her home. Seaweed is a sustainable product that Aranci sells locally to a collector who on-sells to neighbouring islands in Indonesia.

When she started, the farm was small and wasn’t producing enough to provide for all their needs. Her husband Abraham left Rote to seek work on a different island 2,000km away.

With a loan from one of Opportunity’s partners, Aranci was able to expand her business, investing in seeds and ropes.

The farm grew, and so did the family’s income. Aranci began to afford nutritious food for the children as well as school fees. Unfortunately, in May 2023, Abraham’s work dried up, so he returned to Rote and now helps Aranci run the seaweed farm. They hope to expand the farm even further now that it is their only source of income.

Their two eldest children are married and have children of their own. Their middle daughter has graduated high school and has hopes of joining the navy. The younger two children are still in school.

“My dream is to take care of my children so they can continue their studies and get a job,” said Aranci.

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

Learn more about the impact of our programs

Learn more