Change a Girl's Life Through Microentrepreneurship

The Anglophone crisis erupted in 2016, dramatically disrupted businesses and forced countless individuals to relocate. Many of Reachout's active beneficiaries faced severe challenges; some had just launched their businesses a year earlier and were on the brink of success. The persistent gun battles, unlawful arrests, tragic killings, and the destruction of homes created an overwhelming atmosphere of tension, compelling many to seek safety elsewhere.

Beneficiaries empowered by Reachout in 2015 bore the brunt of this crisis, often shutting down their businesses or moving away. Those fortunate enough to receive an 80,000 FRS ($128.79) business grant, along with initial capital of 150,000 ($241.48) to 200,000 FRS ($321.97), were left with no choice but to abandon their ventures and escape to safer regions. Tole had become a "red zone," marked by danger and instability.

 One such beneficiary, Patience, who had actively participated in training and received support for her start-up or expansion, confidently moved her family to their village in the Northwest Region—specifically Nkambe—where they felt secure. Before the crisis, she successfully operated a provisions business with a capital of 150,000 FRS ($241.48) and a monthly profit of 30,000 FRS. When the crisis struck, she prioritized her family's safety, leaving behind her business assets and using her savings to relocate. In the village, she embraced farming vegetables for sale, generating income to send her children back to school. While her husband and she worked diligently on the farm, their children thrived in their studies.

In 2020, after learning that calm had been restored in Tole, Patience confidently decided to return with her family to Buea. Life in the village had proven challenging, and they temporarily stayed in her husband’s family compound before reclaiming their home in Tole. Unfortunately, they discovered thieves had raided her store, stealing all her belongings. Undeterred, she borrowed 10,000 FRS ($16.10) to rent land for vegetable cultivation.

Today, her farming venture is thriving. She has joined cooperative and savings groups to raise capital for a new business. Reflecting on her journey, Patience proudly shares, "Thanks to Reach out for the invaluable training in 2015, I have empowered my eldest daughter to start her own business and instilled in her the importance of managing her finances wisely."