Change a Girl's Life Through Microentrepreneurship

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Linda is a single mother and an internally displaced person (IDP) from Kumba. In 2016, when the Anglophone crisis initiated in 2016, Linda was engaged in small-scale trading, earning a minimum of 25,000 FRS ($41.67) per month. However, by 2017, she could no longer tolerate the sound of gunfire and was exhausted from the continuous search for safety, frequently moving from one hiding place to another. Subsequently, a relative extended an invitation for her to reside in Muea.

Upon her arrival in Muea, Linda encountered significant challenges as she and her relative struggled to survive. She accepted daily employment on various farms to make ends meet, which increasingly complicated life for both her and her daughter. Upon leaving Kumba for Muea, she was unable to take any of her belongings and fled with only her daughter. 

While residing in Muea, Linda managed to save a modest amount of money from her various jobs and rented a small room for 5,000 FRS ($8.33) per month for herself and her daughter. Life became so arduous that providing adequate food was a considerable challenge. Eventually, she established a small café restaurant in her neighborhood with an initial capital of 10,000 FRS ($16.67), which enabled her to generate an average monthly income of 15,000 FRS ($25.00). Nevertheless, she faced challenges such as limited space and inadequate capital for bulk supply purchases, although her business was progressively improving.

In 2022, Reach Out social workers conducted a visit for identification purposes, and Linda was selected based on her Excel Vulnerability Criteria score, ranking her among the most vulnerable IDPs. Subsequently, she received three days of training in business management, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), entrepreneurship, savings, and bookkeeping. With the financial support she acquired, Linda was able to purchase supplies in bulk, resulting in an increase in her average monthly profit to 30,000 FRS about ($50.00). Consequently, her business began to flourish.

In July, following the receipt of a second-level grant, Linda expanded her operations by relocating, as her previous location was insufficient to accommodate more than five customers at a time she had to change her business place to a larger place. She began to purchase supplies in larger quantities, including a carton of eggs and 20 liters of vegetable oil, while also participating regularly in a local savings group known as njangi.

“Thanks to the financial support and training I received, my business has expanded significantly. I can now maintain accurate financial records, ensure my child receives an education, and have welcomed two of my siblings to join me. Through this business, I have equipped my living space with essential items. My quality of life has improved substantially due to the assistance I received from Reach Out,” Linda stated.