Matthew Ben is a grade 8 school leaver who resides at Cherry's block at the back of the Catholic Church in Kimbe.
He is a young Simbu man who decided to try his skills in the small to medium enterprise business. You find him and a group of young Simbu men daily at their tent selling thongs to earn an income.
Asked what his aspirations were, he replies: “I want to be a businessman. I want to own my own shop and my own cars.”
“I have my small brothers here who are currently on holidays assisting me. It is my dream for them to complete their education, but they must lend a hand. Nothing is for free,” says Ben.
Ben makes a thousand plus during company pay weeks and during government pay weeks he earns roughly K300 and above. He travels to the oil palm plantations as far as Bialla and Silovuti during paydays to sell thongs only.
“I don't want to see my brothers taking drugs or joining armed gangs to make a living. One day they might get killed by Police. We have enough killings already. We must sweat to live our lives and be fruitful,” Ben says.