Tirunesh Opened a Hospital Café, Thanks to Training and Loan
As her family grew, Tirunesh stepped away from her career to raise her eight children. They lived in Hawassa, a city overlooking the…
May 05, 2026
In Indonesia, where frequent natural disasters contribute to displacement and homelessness, communities are in crisis. Determined to help, Yuki created Mentari Village, a housing project nestled amidst a lush forest on the eastern coast of Borneo. Since its inception, this subsidized housing community has helped over 900 families find affordable homes.
After a successful career building companies in construction and interior design, Yuki’s son, Paulus, felt called to steward what he’d been given for an even greater purpose. He came to Mentari as a business development director and, in 2025, launched a hub for local entrepreneurs to grow, create, and become part of the economic pulse of the Mentari Village community.
Mentari's Business Hub
“At this company, we run our business as our mission,” Paulus said. “We’re combining our place of business and our place of ministry.”
Mentari’s Micro, Small, and Medium-sized enterprise (MSME) Hub is the next chapter in a ministry that began with helping families afford homes. Designed and led by people who live and work in the community, the MSME Hub provides a shared space for residents to access training, mentoring, and networks—from government connections to the wider Partners Worldwide network!
Different entrepreneurs face different challenges. While microentrepreneurs may lack basic knowledge on how to manage their businesses, those in the medium-sized category may struggle with marketing or expansion. Born of leaders who understand the barriers local entrepreneurs face, Mentari’s MSME Hub helps address these challenges, enabling entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and create opportunities for families and communities to thrive.
Bringing Hope to Families
Since the Hub’s launch, Paulus has seen economic levels rise in the community, with entrepreneurs able to provide for their families in ways they couldn’t before. What's more, he’s felt a pervasive, unmistakable joy—the sort of joy that’s born of hope. Families aren’t just living one day at a time—they're setting goals for the future.
Already, Paulus has given 600 entrepreneurs the leg up they need to grow their businesses. Next, he hopes to reach 6,000.
“This is our role as Christians,” said Paulus, “that our presence brings hope to the people we serve.”
Because of you, entrepreneurs like Paulus can develop community-rooted solutions, uplifting families and building resilience, one house at a time.
