Change a Girl's Life Through Microentrepreneurship

Naomi is a single mother of four children and an internally displaced person (IDP) from Wonya Miavo, a small village in the southwest region of Muea, Fako. Before the Anglophone crisis began, Naomi lived a happy life with her family in a small locality. She was involved in selling smoked fish, starting with a capital of 20,000 FRS (approximately $32.93) and earning a monthly profit of 10,000 FRS (about $16.59), which she used to assist her husband.In 2019, her husband left for Douala, promising to return and care for them, but he disappeared and never returned. As a result, Naomi had to relocate to Muea, where she stayed with a friend for a year.

In July 2020, Naomi was identified by a social worker from Reach Out NGO during a door-to-door identification process. After conducting a social inquiry and reviewing the vulnerability criteria, Naomi presented a realistic business plan for expanding her smoked fish business and was selected among several other candidates. After participating in an intensive training program on business management, bookkeeping, savings, and reproductive health and rights, she received a business grant of 30,000 FRS (approximately $49.74). She combined this with her previous capital, bringing her total capital to 45,000 FRS (about $74.12). With this amount, she could buy three cartons of fish, which she smokes and sells at the Muea Market on Thursdays and Sundays. This business allowed her to join a daily njangi (a rotating savings group) of 10,000 FRS (about $16.59) on those days, and as a result, she and her children could eat well.

However, she faced challenges such as high fish prices and the scarcity of fish, which forced her to travel to Douala, Tiko, or Limbe in search of fish to smoke and sell. The high costs led to a drop in demand in the market. After six months of consistent efforts in her business, her capital increased by an additional 50,000 FRS (about $82.89). She invested this money to buy more fish and began supplying it bulk to other sellers. Now, she operates with a capital of 95,000 FRS (approximately $157.59) and earns a monthly profit of 35,000 FRS (about $58.06).

In 2024, a Reach Out social worker visited Naomi and was impressed by her economic growth. Naomi now has a capital of 200,000 FRS (about $331.77) and earns a profit of 50,000 FRS. She stated, “With the daily njangi, I have been able to rent two rooms and a parlor and equip them. My children no longer have to go watch television in someone’s house. I am proud to have sent all four of my children to school, and we enjoy three square meals a day. I also smoke different varieties of fish. Thanks to Reach Out's contribution to our lives. God bless all those funders who have seen the struggles of a woman in need.”