Change a Girl's Life Through Microentrepreneurship

“Before the crisis, I had a well-established tailoring workshop with 2 apprentices”, Cecilia a 33 years old mother of 4, internally displaced in 2019 from Kwa Kwa Bole as a result of the Anglophone crisis narrates. “But my workshop was burnt down and life became difficult when my husband relocated to Limbe as a result of the insecurity and hostilities towards men in Kwa Kwa”

In 2020, after living in the bush for about 6 months, Cecilia decided to move to Kumba the chief town of Meme division with her 4 children. "While in Kumba, I was stranded because I had no source of income and I relied on goodwill to survive with the children”.

After so many searches, Cecilia was lucky to meet a seamstress for whom she served as a salesperson for over 7 months. Coupled with proceeds from working on peoples’ farms, Cecilia was able to make a living for herself and her children. With proceeds from her salesperson job, $30 (15,000 FRS) monthly, she was able to save about $80 (40,000 FRS) within 7 months which she used to acquire a fairly used sewing machine. While still serving her employer, she was able to make her own dresses and sell them.

In August 2021, Reach Out Cameroon identified Cecilia as a beneficiary of our Poverty Graduation Scheme. She was trained on entrepreneurship and bookkeeping after which she was provided with a grant of $60 (30,000 FRS). The grant enabled her to secure a shop in the Kumba main market for a monthly rent of $10 (5,000frs). “I paid the rent for two months for the shop, and then I bought materials and other accessories with the balance”.

After 6 months of continuous monitoring, supportive supervision, and entrepreneurship coaching from Reach Out’s social worker, Cecilia, was able to make an average monthly profit of 23,430 frs with an average capital of 51,000 FRS. “With this business, I am sure of a square meal for my children and me, our bills are settled with ease now. In 2021, I registered my children in school and I am happy because I can afford their school fees and above all I am psychologically stable now”.

In March 2022, pleased with her resilience, savings habit, adherence to bookkeeping and desire to grow, Reach Out gave Cecilia an expansion grant of $100 (50,000 FRS) which she used to purchase another sewing machine and added the number of fabrics in her stock. "There are many girls who come here to learn this trade but because I had just 1 machine, I could not have an apprentice. I am so glad now because with this additional machine I will be privileged to train another girl like me too".

Cecilia is just 1 among the 100 vulnerable women and young girls who Reach Out Cameroon with support and donations from GlobalGiving is currently supporting economically through micro-businesses in the South West region of Cameroon. Her success story is one that speaks to the resilience and journey of a thousand mothers like her living in the conflict-affected North West and South West regions of Cameroon who despite the odds are determined to break out of poverty and make a living for themselves and their children. And we are pleased to accompany her through our Poverty Graduation Scheme.

Margarete, a mother of 4 is an Internally Displaced woman from Konye one of the most conflict-affected communities of the Meme Division in the South West region of Cameroon. “When the Anglophone Crisis began, our house was among the first houses to be burnt down in Konye in 2017”. With her home burnt down, Margarete and her family fled from one bush to the other between 2017 and 2018 up till 2019, when she moved to Kumba with her one-month-old baby alongside her 3 other children.  “Moving to Kumba primarily was for security reasons and the children’s Education”.

Alone in Kumba with her three children, Margarete has been working on people’s farms to be able to pay her rents and send her children to school. “My husband comes to Kumba once in a while and gives me a helping hand in farming. Since he has nothing doing in town, he prefers to go back to Konye and do daily jobs on people’s farms “. In 2020, her situation was made worst by a couple whom she knew back in Konye who after visiting abandoned their 2 children (girls aged 4 and 6 years old) in her care. Despite her meager means, Margarate was able to register the children in school alongside her own children. “I struggle with them all and it has not been easy to feed or clothe them”  

Touched by her resilience and generosity, Reach Out in August 2021 included Margarete in our Poverty Graduation Program. She was given capacity-building training on entrepreneurship, bookkeeping, saving, and sexual reproductive Health Rights after which a conditional cash transfer of $60 (30,000 XAF was given to her to expand her business.  With knowledge from the capacity-building sessions, she was able to the sales of underwears to her primary source of income which is the sales of farm produce such as processed cassava and vegetables.  “The business is helping me so much in supporting my children’s health, food, and many other things. I can’t afford to take my business for granted,” said Margarete. She is very consistent, committed, and keeps a good record of her business. Her business is steadily growing and she now has an estimated capital of about $150 (75,000 XAF).  She equally has a poultry farm with about 35 table birds and her plan is to expand the poultry farm when she benefits from a second business grant from Reach Out.  Our project caseworker provides monthly supportive supervision to Margarete and she is expected to be provided the second grand of $100 (50 000 XAF) by the end of March 2022.

Margarete extends her deepest gratitude to the GlobalGiving Community and donors for making her financially stable and putting back a smile on her face.  “I am most especially thankful for the fact that I am able to support my household and provide for my kids thereby saving my husband from some stress through overthinking and frustration”.

We join Margarete in thanking our donors for their generous donations.