(ERGO) – Displaced young men in Adado, central Somalia’s Galgadud region, are buying into an initiative by local businessmen providing them with cars on affordable credit terms.
For many of these families, the opportunity has marked the first step away from aid dependency and towards self-reliance.
Abdirisak Abdullahi Mohamed, a father of nine, now works daily as a taxi driver behind the wheel of a car he received on loan in May.
After quickly establishing a base of regular customers in town, Abdirisak earns at least $15 profit a day that has transformed his family’s daily life.
“Now things have really changed. In the past, people ate only once a day, but now we eat three times a day because this small car allows me to work. God is the one who provides, but when I got this car, life really improved. I obtained the car thanks to relatives in the city who acted as my guarantors,” Abdirisak said.
The income means the family doesn’t have to rely any more on inconsistent support from relatives. In just a few months, Abdirisak has repaid $630 of the $3,700 car loan and sets aside at least $10 every day to pay off the rest within the contractual two year period.
Although he had never worked as a driver before, he was encouraged by relatives who knew of his family’s desperate situation. At first, he wasn’t confident, but the regular flow of customers quickly changed his outlook.
Before this opportunity, he had tried unsuccessfully to find casual labour in the city, as he had few no skills and didn’t have good connections.
“My hope was very low when I first arrived here as a displaced person. I thought nothing would change. But now things are different – I am a working man, contributing to the city, and supporting my family. This small car provides for my household and sustains me too, giving me new hope,” he said.
With the steady income, Abdirisak is planning to move his family from Hillaac camp on the outskirts of Adado into a rented house in town.
His family was displaced in 2023 from Amara village in Mudug region, after fighting between government forces and Al-Shabaab destroyed their home, shop, and two-hectare farm. This month, he also intends to enroll three of his children in school for the first time since displacement.
Hassan Mahmoud Ali has been working for two months with the car he bought on the same loan scheme. He earns at least $10 daily, enough to cover his family’s expenses and repay debts.
For Hassan, the opportunity brought an end to the anxiety and hunger his family of seven endured during four years in Aymis IDP camp.
“It’s better to have work you feel good about. I have many customers and contacts in the city now. I transport school children, university students, and sometimes passengers travelling to nearby villages. Occasionally, I get hired for longer trips to towns like Galkayo or Godinlabe. It is a good opportunity,” he said.
Hassan’s family had long depended on help from relatives and irregular aid handouts. Since starting work, he has not only supported his household but also repaid $200 in debts owed to shops in the camp. He now saves daily with the goal of clearing his $2,500 car loan within a year.
He was displaced from Aad in Mudug in 2021, after drought killed the three camels he owned. He worked for three months carrying stones on a construction site, then tried poorly paid motorcycle taxi work but failed to make enough.
“Since I got this car, my finances have stabilised. My family and parents are happy, and I am paying off the debt step by step,” he said.
According to one of the businessmen providing the cars on credit, Abdiaziz Hassan Osman, the loans have so far helped 70 men from displaced families to achieve self-reliance and move away from dependency on aid since earlier this year .
He said they had seen the importance of investing in displaced youth who wanted to change their families’ lives but lacked capital. After gathering information, they concluded that vehicles were the most viable way for them to earn an income.
The cars are provided if the recipient brings a guarantor, usually a relative or elder, to ensure the businessmen’s investments are protected.
“The risk is high, but as businessmen we decided to use our resources to support displaced youth who had no jobs or income. Whether we lose or gain depends on the commitment of those who guarantee them, but we felt it was worth taking the chance,” Abdiaziz said.
Youth unemployment is widespread across the country, and displaced and vulnerable families are even more affected. Initiatives like these show that with investment and opportunity, much can change.
