Survive in the Covid-19 Pandemic with ASKA Savings

#BersamaMelawanCovid19 - Rasma (37) is a corn farmer in the Tojo Una-Una (Touna) Regency, Central Sulawesi. Her determination to work really is no doubt in order to meet the needs of the family, especially in support of the education costs of his three children. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rasma admitted that it was difficult to get income. However, she was helped by the existence of the ASCA (Accumulating Saving and Credit Association) under the guidance of Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI) in the Touna Program Area.

Rasma admitted that it was difficult to get money in the current pandemic. He felt fortunate to be able to obtain savings from ASCA.

"If I don't save at ASCA, I don't know where to get money for my child's school registration," Rasma recalled. 

Rasma joined the group of ASCA Sejahtera Uebone Village, which was formed in May 2019. She actively comes and does savings during the ASCA group activity. 

In each ASCA meeting, Rasma only bought 1-2 shares with a value of IDR 5,000 per share. However, he was never ashamed to buy shares in any amount or even smaller than some of his friends who usually buy 3-4 shares. 

As of March 2020, the activities of ASCA Sejahtera have been running for 10 months, meaning that there are only 2 more months left for each member to get the results of the distribution of shares and the remainder of their business results or as they are familiar with the term RAT (one cycle has 12 months). The activities of ASCA Sejahtera Uebone continue to run as usual, even though WVI field staff have put groups in line with government policies in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce a large number of people to avoid Covid-19 transmission. 

However, the ASCA Sejahtera group continued to follow the Covid-19 protocol standard which was urged by the government and WVI, namely: to keep a distance, wear masks, and wash hands after carrying out activities. Rasma kept trying to save even though she already felt the impact of Covid-19 on her family's economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On May 14, 2020, it was time for the ASKA Prosperous Uebone Village group to conduct a RAT. That day Rasma received the results of her savings of Rp2,952,000. Rasma immediately gave thanks when he found out the amount of money he had received.

"Thank God, I did not expect his savings to be this big. I am very grateful that during the Covid-19 pandemic ASCA savings helped me to enroll my child in high school and to buy their uniforms. If there are advantages, I will buy rice," she said happily.

Written by: Sudarman, Facilitator of the Touna Wahana Visi Indonesia Area Development Program