(ERGO) – Displaced women living in internal displacement camps in Dollow, southern Somalia’s Gedo region, are stepping up to support their families in small business initiatives.
Mother of six, Hamda Sheikh Hassan, took a $122 loan from a shop owner near Qurdubay camp to open her own small stall selling groceries and vegetables.
The family had depended on food aid from World Vision that recently ceased. Hamda’s husband, a mason, was the main provider until work opportunities dwindled, leaving them facing hardship.
“I’m dedicating myself to getting food for my children from this stall. On some days my earnings are enough for dinner, while on others I can provide for both dinner and breakfast,” said, Hamda, who was a housewife until recently.
She walks to the farms surrounding Dollow in the mornings to buy vegetables at low prices to sell at her own stall for a profit.
“I had to find a means of feeding my children, so I took a loan to set up this modest stall, sourcing vegetables from the farms. I incurred debt but also discovered a pathway to provide for my family,” she said.
After three months the stall earned her enough to repay her loan. She also joined a group of 10 women traders in the camp to create a shared market space to sell their products and attract more customers.
Hamda says she was inspired seeing other women who had successfully launched their own businesses.
“I observed other women working and earning a living, prompting me to try it myself. Through hard work and determination, I’ve managed to overcome many challenges,” she said.
Hamda’s family came to Qurdubay camp in 2022, after fleeing Bangood village in Afdheer zone in southern Ethiopia when severe drought killed off their livestock.
Ruqiyo Ismail Wardhere, 43, has built a business in the camp slaughtering sheep and selling meat, after saving up from working in a local butchery.
“My stall has given me the means to support my children. I no longer have to depend on anyone else. Before this, life was very difficult, but now I can cook meals for my children every day,” Ruqiyo said.
She earns around $10 daily that enables her to buy food and basics for her family and also to put away money in a women’s savings group.
Luuley Ibrahim Adan, a mother of nine, takes fresh vegetables on credit from local farmers and pays them back after selling them from a small table she set up along a busy street in Dollow. She makes $7-8 a day, covering her family’s basic needs, including three meals a day, her children’s Koranic school fees, and contributions to a women’s savings group.
Her main struggle is vying for a good spot for her table on the roadside as there is no market site.
“The men are around but there is no employment. We the women have taken charge of providing for our families. We need a proper marketplace or a dedicated area where we can set up our stalls,” Luuley said, hoping her appeal will be attended to by the local authorities.
