Change a Girl's Life Through Microentrepreneurship

Chanceline is a determined single mother and an internally displaced person originating from Ekona. The ongoing Anglophone Crisis compelled her and her daughter to relocate to Buea. Before the crisis, Chanceline successfully operated a food business, alternating between cooking and cultivating food crops for household consumption. The devastating loss of her child's father and her only brother during this conflict profoundly affected her, leading to their departure from Ekona. For one year, a church provided her with shelter and support.

Upon her arrival in Buea, Chanceline sought to improve their circumstances by engaging in menial jobs to provide for herself and her daughter. The living situation was challenging, as they shared a cramped room with eleven other individuals. Nevertheless, she collaborated with a church sister to sell tomatoes, utilizing the modest profits to supplement their meals and improve their living conditions.

In 2020, during the monthly business coaching conducted by Reachout NGO, Chanceline was identified, trained, and awarded a startup grant of approximately $45 (30,000 FRS). Grateful for this opportunity, she established her own business and quickly developed a substantial customer base owing to her prior experience in hawking.

After six months of diligent effort, she successfully saved approximately $75 (50,000 FRS). She judiciously allocated these funds to rent a room in Muea for six months at a cost of approximately $7.50 (5,000 FRS). Chanceline's unwavering commitment to her business allowed her to secure a second-level grant, enabling her to expand her product offerings to include onions.

In November 2024, representatives from Reach Out visited the Muea market, where Chanceline's significant progress was evident, eliciting positive reactions from the social workers in attendance. She stated, "Thanks to the training I received from Reachout NGO, I have successfully rented a market space and increased my inventory. I now possess the skills to manage my business effectively. My growth can be attributed to my commitment to saving and my participation in a weekly njangi of approximately $15 (10,000 FRS), which has contributed to my capital. My hope has been restored. I do not intend to return to Ekona; my life has improved significantly since the crisis, and my daughter is now able to attend school."

Charlotte, a widow and mother of three, was forced to leave Mbanga Bakundu and relocate to Muyuka due to the ongoing Anglophone crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. Before the crisis, she owned a chemical shop, which was destroyed in a fire during violent confrontations between state and non-state armed groups.

After her move to Muyuka, Charlotte took on various odd jobs to support her family. With the help of a first-level grant, she started a small poultry farm and incorporated farming into her business model. Thanks to the business management and entrepreneurship training provided by Reach Out NGO, Charlotte has made significant strides in her entrepreneurial endeavors.

"I lost everything I had because of the crisis. I couldn't afford to take care of my family, so I began doing odd jobs. With the support I've received, I started rearing table birds. Despite numerous challenges, the principles I learned in bookkeeping and business management have been crucial for the growth of my business. I can now save money and support my family," she shared.

Charlotte has successfully repaid the debts she had incurred after losing some of her assets and has invested in her farm, where she grows vegetables and cocoyams for sale. Currently, she enjoys an average monthly profit of 30,000 FCFA ($50.00), with her capital increasing to 183,500 FCFA ($254.57). With the awarding of a second grant, she established a roadside market business in front of her home in Muyuka, selling raw food items such as cocoyams, plantains, and yams, which she sources directly from local farmers.

As her business continues to thrive, Charlotte aspires to launch an additional venture alongside her current operations—a goal that has become attainable through her second-level grant. Despite facing some minor obstacles, she continues to support her family through her business.

“Thanks to the funding and training I received, my business has expanded significantly. Although I faced challenges, including losing some of my birds, I haven't given up. I can now keep accurate records, and I have been able to send my children to school. This business has positively impacted my life, thanks to the support from Reach Out NGO.”

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