(ERGO) – Maryan Khalif Digale has become the backbone of her family of 10, thanks to financial support she received to start a vegetable business.
She is one of 90 women from families who lost their farms or livestock due to drought and floods and moved to Goob-weyn, who were supported by Alight and GIZ organisations with $500 each last October to start small businesses.
Her vegetable shop has gained steady customers, serving hundreds of families in Goob-weyn in Lower Juba region and surrounding areas.
She noted that her daily profits range from $6-7, which has pulled her family out of a prolonged difficult situation.
“I found what I was missing. I learned business skills. Now I am doing well, saving money, managing my household, clearing debts, and putting food on the table. When I run out of vegetables to sell, I send someone to the market to restock, and that’s how I manage,” she told Radio Ergo.
Maryan said when the funds were distributed, she and 30 other women in her group agreed to create a savings plan to help each other during difficult times. In the first month, each contributed $40, collectively saving $1,200 to support their businesses in case of any challenges.
The steady income she is making now has ended the uncertainty for the family.
“We relied on what God provided, taking loans and depending on relatives. But I was selected when the opportunity came. I believe it was God’s plan because I’m a single mother with orphaned children and no husband to rely on.”
Last November, Maryan completed building a stall at her house that cost $250 and where she now sells her vegetables instead of from a table out in the sun.
In November, she paid $50 in school fees for her three children attending primary school in Goob-weyn and settled $100 in debts from the times when her family faced severe hardship.
“My customers call to place orders, and I send what they need. I sell pumpkins, tomatoes, okra, onions, bananas, and more, which I source from local farms or bring from Kismayo,” she said.
Maryan’s family were once farmers living near Goob-weyn, cultivating a 4-hectare farm that produced vegetables and grains sufficient for their needs. However, in May 2023 floods destroyed her crops, leading to financial struggles.
Now, she plans to revive her farm by saving part of her earnings daily, hoping for a dual income from her business and farming.
Amina Shide Dhimbil has also been able to support her family of 12 since starting a clothing and footwear business with the investment funds she received.
She purchased a 5-metre plot and built a shop after borrowing $400 that she is now repaying at $30 a month.
“I bought land and built a proper shop. It’s not just a makeshift stall, I used good materials. Now I have a fixed place for my business, unlike before when I had no permanent location,” Amina said.
Her daily profits range from $10 to $25, which she uses for household expenses, school fees for her children, and loan repayments. She plans to expand her business to the Istanbul neighbourhood, which is home to many displaced families. She sources her goods from wholesalers, adding a small profit margin.
Amina has six children attending school and Koranic classes and has been able to pay their $50 monthly fees from her earnings.
Her family lived as pastoralists near Goob-weyn until drought in 2022 killed their livestock, forcing them to move to the village. There, they relied on her $1.6 daily wage from cooking jobs, barely enough for one meal. During the rainy season, she used to send her children to rural areas to live with livestock-owning families, hoping they could find food
She said her business has freed her family from the struggles they faced over the past three years.
The leader of the women’s group, Rado Mohamed Ibrahim, explained that families in the most challenging circumstances were targeted by the aid agencies, selecting women who could benefit most from the financial support. The women meet to add their own support.
“We meet twice a month, record contributions, and disburse funds as needed. If someone needs support, they can borrow three times their contribution amount,” Rado explained.
While many displaced families struggle to recover from economic losses caused by droughts and floods, these women have demonstrated that financial support and determination can transform lives.
