By Samantha Solomon
Simon Moki, a man living with a disability since birth, is now a small business owner employing four people.
Moki, who hails from Chimbu Province, was born blind. However, he says his lack of sight did not stop him from pursuing the same opportunities as others.
In a recent interview, the father of three shared how he started his business journey. He said that while attending school and working for others, he always believed that one day he would own a business and become his own boss.
Moki attended Mount Zion to begin his formal education and later completed high school at Kerowagi Secondary School. After spending some time at home, he enrolled at Kamaliki Vocational Training Centre before securing employment with Farmset in Mt Hagen. He continued working with Farmset and other companies while building his dream.
He started by lending small amounts of money to people. As his savings grew, he moved into retail, selling household goods. In 2017, he decided to fully focus on retail due to the risks involved in money lending.
In 2018, he met Linda, a master trainer for small business owners, who trained him in bookkeeping. After completing two courses, he established his shop, Silda Trading.
Over time, Mr Moki expanded into the taxi business. He encouraged people living with disabilities not to limit themselves, saying that physical challenges should not prevent them from achieving their goals.
He also thanked the Australian Government for supporting the “Business Without Barrier” platform under the Building Community Engagement Program in PNG, which gives people with disabilities the opportunity to share their experiences and challenges.
