35 out of the over 100 wheelbarrow boys at the Suva market are making a difference for themselves and their families since joining the Bank of Baroda's micro finance initiative.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji's first edition of its newsletter the E-Guardian said the 35 wheel barrow boys were given micro loans to purchase their own wheelbarrows and the initiative included opening of accounts for the entrepreneurs without the minimum opening balance requirement.

A  survey conducted by the RBF indicated that the scheme has been a success and has addressed the primary purposes for which the initiative had been set up and it also enabled 35 young people, who have never owned a bank account, to open one in their name.

In the past, the operators would hire a wheelbarrow for $28/week and now for less than half the price of renting a wheelbarrow, these young operators can work towards paying off a loan for their own wheel barrow.

The RBF said all 35 barra boys are licensed by the Suva City Council and have been making payments of $8 a week and the recipients have been consistent with their payments, with some even paying more than the required $8 per week.

The RBF said on average a wheel barrow operator could earn as much as up to $30 a day, and during the festive season and other busy periods in the year, they have earned as much as $400 a week.

The Reserve Bank said many of us take owning a wheel barrow for granted but for these young operators, owning their own wheel barrow is a first step to personal financial freedom.