When you think of entrepreneurship, you probably picture a college dropout in a hoodie, running a startup out of a garage. While that kind of entrepreneurial spirit is incredible, it's also worth taking a moment to appreciate the microbusiness. These are small operations run in the streets and on street corners all over the world. While they don't get nearly as much attention as the latest app to come out of Silicon Valley, they play an important role in the local economy as well as the lives of their owners.

Walk along the "kaki lima" (five-foot way) in the streets of Kuching and you'll see a unique marketplace. Here, vendors sell everything from traditional Sarawakian snacks, vegetables and fruits to modern cell phones. Here, you can find clothes and household items. While others may see this as an eyesore, this is what gives character to Kuching and at the same time provide premises for microbusiness owners.

Here a wide range of household items is available.

The display of clothes, shoes and other items add color to the five-foot way of Kuching

Here you can also shop for handphones, start-up packages and pre-paid cards.

Some plants add a dash of green to break the monotony of the five-foot way.

The majority of the five-foot-way market in Kuching is operated by women who come from nearby villages. They take the bus early in the morning carrying their vegetables, fruits and other wares from the villages. They return home daily before the last bus. This shows the grit and determination of these women to put food on the table for their families.

A close-up of the range of vegetables, fruits and other items which are bought from the surrounding villages. A number of these vegetables are grown by the Dayaks and as such are not available at the supermarket.

These women are just one example of how microbusiness is impacting the local economy, especially for those with lower incomes. Microbusinesses like these street-side stalls are increasingly important for people who want to earn above subsistence level wages but don't want to work for a large corporation or invest more money than they already have into starting a business.

Microbusiness doesn't just benefit the owners, however; it benefits society at large. These businesses help locals preserve their culture and identity in areas that are being transformed by globalization and changing demographics. By supporting local microbusinesses, you'll be helping your neighbors earn a higher income, put food on the table, and keep their own traditions alive.
In addition, since the prices at the five-foot-way are cheaper, the lower-income group can save money by buying their daily necessities here.

This is my entry for #MarketFriday by the loving @dswigle.

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ASEAN Hive Community

The ASEAN Community is founded by the hardworking @justinparke who had put in a lot of work and effort to develop this community. This community has provided a platform for Hivers from South-East Asian countries to post their articles. Initiatives such as Asean Hive Top 3, Asean Hiver of The Week and No Post Left Behind help to discover and nurture Hivers who produce quality content.

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Hive Blog Posting Month

The Hive Blog Posting Month is a challenge where you post an article every day for the month of April. I have started posting daily since the middle of March and so I was very happy when I came across this challenge and I hope that it will help me to maintain my momentum.

A big thank you to the fabulous @traciyork for organizing the #hiveblopomo initiative. This is my entry for 29 April 2022.

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Do check out my previous posts.

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Life’s Journey
Spreading positivity one post at a time.
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