Dili, May 6, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Marcelina Fatima Ximenes, from Aileu Municipality, Remexio Administrative Post, Fadabloko Village, Rileu Sub-village, lives as a trader who tirelessly seeks money to meet her needs.
Businesswoman Marcelina Fatima Ximenes said that she lives as a trader who every day sells her products along the roadside, allowing her to earn a bit of money to cover her needs and look after her children’s necessities.
“The money I use to run the business in Remexio comes from a group we established. Every month, we contribute money together so we can take turns borrowing from the group for business purposes. Last year, I borrowed $500 from this group. My husband and I decided we had to go to Dili to make a living, and that way we can make monthly payments to give others the opportunity to also borrow money from the group,” said businesswoman Marcelina Fatima Ximenes.
She explained that when she borrowed the $500, she had to repay $100 every month so that other group members could borrow in turn. Because the group loan is like holding someone else’s money, whether one likes it or not, repayments must be made monthly.
“So, when my husband and I decided to bring this money to Dili to make a living, we began making repayments each month. We live right inside Taibesi Market to run our business, which makes it easier for us. Coming from as a trader background, living in this setting is really difficult because the income we earn daily is small, and it’s hard to cover everything,” she said.
She emphasized that for over a year she has been running her business inside the market because they don’t have a house in Dili. Despite facing various challenges, she keeps working hard, hoping that this difficult situation can turn around, and in the future she hopes to see her children in school and be able to build a house in Remexio.
“While we run the business in the market, I just sleep on the bench, but I still work hard to earn money. When you’re just sitting around, who’s going to think about your loan repayment? The goods I sell daily include bananas, papayas, guavas, and rambutans,” she added.
She said that every day she takes her goods for sale at 7:00 a.m., leaving Taibesi Market and walking with her items along the road toward Cristo-Rei. If some of the goods aren’t sold, she continues walking past the Government Palace and on to Ai-Tarak area, before returning to Taibesi Market.
“The items I sell daily are usually worth around $50 in total So, this work is very exhausting, but I keep going. When I get tired, I rest a bit and then walk again so people can buy. On good days, I can sell goods at prices ranging from $30 to $45, and sometimes even all the way up to $50,” she said.
She stated that although her business always faces challenges, she continues to push forward so that her goods can be sold. If she just sat in the market, the goods might not sell because many others are also doing business.
Further explaining, Marcelina said that as a female trader, she carries goods every day and walks along the roadside even when facing challenges. But she never loses hope in continuing her business activity, because through this simple business, she has managed to meet her daily needs.
Reporter : Nelfiano
Photo : Nelfiano