(ERGO) – A stable job with a new cleaning company in Galkayo, central Somalia’s Mudug region, has put widowed Farhia Omar Warsame into a solid position to support her seven children on her own.
Since she was employed by the firm Degan-dhowr in May, she has been on a monthly salary of $200-250, with an extra $20 for her coordination of a cleaning team of 10 other women employees.
Having struggled on as little as $3-5 per week from her efforts at small business, this new job means that her children no longer go to bed hungry. Since her husband, who was a truckdriver, died five years she has been the sole breadwinner for her family.
“Today, I feel empowered. My children are getting an education, and I hope they will help me in the future. We couldn’t get loans or even aid, but now I am working in a place where I am physically and mentally capable – this job has given me peace of mind,” Farhia told Radio Ergo.
Farhia set up a clothing shop after borrowing $150 in 2021 and supplemented it by selling cooked food in the evenings to earn extra income. However, she didn’t earn enough and accumulated debts of $300 that hung over her.
“Back then, I used to make flatbreads in the morning and sell clothes in the afternoon to get by. It was difficult. But today, I am proud to be a working woman who can plan her finances,” she said.
She is happy that her new income allows her to pay $80 a month to send five of her children to school and Koranic classes. She has also rented a two-room house for $60 per month.
Another widow and mother of four, Deqo Abdulahi Shire, has also been employed by Degan-dhowr company as a cleaner in a hospital.
She moved to Galkayo from Mogadishu in 2021 because living in the capital city was so expensive. She worked irregular odd jobs for three years and is happy to have a stable income now with a $200 monthly salary that covers her basic needs, such as food, water, and electricity.
“This job has greatly improved my life. Now, I have enough money every month to pay for our essentials. I get food from a store that gives me credit, and I can pay off my debts bit by bit. Life is much better now compared to two years ago when I had no work,” Deqo said.
She learned about the job from other women in the company. She used to go door-to-door, asking for cleaning work in different homes. It was difficult it was to find decent-paying work.
“Sometimes, I’d clean entire houses for just $30 or $35 a month, and I would get work on some days but on other days I wouldn’t get any jobs at all,” she said.
Deqo has managed to pay off $150 of her $400 worth of debts and is working hard to clear the rest.
In June, she was able to re-enroll three of her children in school after a long break caused by the loss of her husband, who had been covering their school fees. She now pays $43 per month for her children’s school fees and Koranic lessons.
To manage her tight budget, Deqo walks 40 minutes to work every day to save money on transport. She hopes her salary will be increased in future so she can save up to build her own home and no longer pay rent.
The director of Degan-dhowr, Yusuf Mohamed, explained that the company targets poor and vulnerable women, aiming to offer them jobs whilst contributing to environmental sanitation. They employ 200 women to work on cleaning contracts in hospitals, offices, restaurants, and residential homes in Galkayo.
Many of the women employed are the sole providers for their families, and some have been promoted to leadership positions within the company due to their hard work and commitment.
“Most of the people who come to us for jobs are extremely poor, often the most vulnerable in society. They are mothers who have no one to support them, no jobs, and no advocates. When they come to us, we assess their suitability for the work and prioritise those most in need,” said Yusuf.
Degan-dhowr started operations in Galkayo in early 2023. This year it began a significant recruitment of women, after the company had established itself.
