Change a Girl's Life Through Microentrepreneurship

Perlazie is a 37 year old internally displaced woman who was forced to abandon their home in Kwakwa in Meme Division in the South West Region of Cameroon due to the ongoing Socio Political Crisis. Before the crisis, Perlazie was into petit business as a source of livelihood while living in their compound in Kwakwa.

When the crisis began in 2016, Perlazie lost everything as her shop was burnt down and their house became unsecured due to the presence of military and none state Armed Group (NSAG) characterized by massive arrest, killing, adoption and the burning of homes and businesses. Perlazie had to run for her life to seek refuge in Buea. While in Buea, life was unbearable as she had to strive to survive. She was offered shelter for free by a pastor in his church. She later on raised capital from menial jobs which she was carrying out and engaged into shoe business where she sell ladies sleepers/sandals and male sleepers. At times she will run out of capital and will have to take goods on credit and sell before paying back.

In July 2022, Reach Out NGO through its social workers identified Perlazie during a door-to-door identification process. After conducting her social inquiry and going through the vulnerability criteria, Perlazie presented a realistic expansion business plan for her shoe business. After going through a 3-day intensive training program on business management, bookkeeping, savings, and reproductive health and rights, Perlazie was given an expansion grant of $114 (57,200 CFA). With this, her capital increased from 35.000 FRS to 96200.

From her business, Pelazie has been able to rent and equip her own house; she currently has a capital of 120.000 FRS and has added readymade shoes aside her old business which was second hand shoes. Perlazie can afford a 3 square meal in a day and also assist others financially.

On the other hand, Perlazie has been able to save money for future use and emergency. The knowledge she had on savings after the training completely wiped off the notion she had that you must have a large amount of money in other to own an account in a financial institution. She became so overwhelmed when she receives updates on her phone after every transaction in her account.

Perlezie is just 1 among the 107 internally displaced women and girls whom your numerous donations have been able to put small on her face once more after she lost her source of livelihood as a result of the crisis ravaging the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. Thank you so much the donations.

Esther is a 47-year-old internally displaced widow, forced to abandon her home in Bafut, North West Region of Cameroon. Before the crisis started in 2016, Esther lived with her husband and five children in her hometown in Bafut, where she practiced subsistence agriculture as her source of livelihood.

When the crisis began in 2016, Esther lost access to her farm and was unable to meet her basic needs and those of her family. In a quest for survival, she moved to Buea in 2018 with her husband and children, and settled in Muea where they rented a plank room that cost them 12$(6000 FRS) monthly.  Esther and her family began to survive by taking up daily odd jobs to be able to feed.

Life became harder for Esther in 2020, when she lost her husband and was left to fend for her five children alone in the midst of an escalating armed conflict. After her husband died, Esther and her five children did daily jobs and later rented a farm on which they depended for their survival. Esther was unable to send her children to school and she and her children could barely afford a meal a day.

In 2021, one of Esther’s children got critically sick. The money she made from petty jobs and her small farm was unable to cater for the medical bills. She was forced to take loans to settle the medical bills. After battling the sickness for a while, Esther lost her child.

In July 2022, Esther was identified by our social worker during a door-to-door identification process. After conducting her social inquiry and going through the vulnerability criteria, Esther presented a realistic business plan for her vegetable business. After going through a 3-day intensive training program on business management, bookkeeping, savings, and reproductive health and rights, Esther was given a business grant of $100 (50,000 CFA). “The money I received has really helped me and my children. Life was really hard before now but with my vegetable business we live more comfortably.”

From her business, she has been able to pay the debt she incurred from her sick child. She can now send her children to school. Esther now supplies vegetable to restaurants in town and has an average monthly income of about 170$ (85.000 FRS) with an average monthly profit of 50$ (30.000FRS). When she has bulk buyers, she employs other market women and pays them to work.

Esther is just 1of the 107 women and girls in conflict-affected areas whose lives have been changed through micro business with your support. Thank you so much.