07/10/2009

All it took was USD 380 - and hard work

Iman Mohammed  has been running a small tea shop for the past four years to meet the daily needs of her family. But without resources to improve her business, her tea shop could only provide minimal, substandard services and did not attract many customers.

Iman is one of the beneficiaries of a UNDP project seeking to create employment opportunities for the most vulnerable people in Dinsor District (Bay region), among them women who lead households on their own (read more about the Area-Based Early Recovery project).
 
In the short interview below, she explains how she managed to improve her small business and make a much better living from it after she received both training and a small grant in June 2009.

Q: Please introduce yourself.

A: I am Iman, a mother of three children, a widow and the leader of my household. I have been supporting my family for the last four years with my small tea and light food shop. The food security of the household has been under threat and we have been skipping meals due to lack of food and resources. This has been part of life.

Q: What is the amount of the grant given to you as a group and as an individual under the Area-Based Early Recovery project?

A: We were given USD 2,280 as a group; from the group, we each received USD 380. I personally contributed USD 76.

Q: Do you think this will change your life?

A: Yes, very much. Before the project, we had assets worth less than USD 70. Now, my assets are worth over USD 400. I have no doubt that the life of my family will improve tremendously. I can take my children to school, buy them clothes and treat them if they fall sick.

Q: Do you think this grant will assist you in terms of long-term employment?

A: Yes, I will use the grant to improve my small business. If I apply the experience I had before and the training we were given (in May 2009) by the project, the business will improve and there will long-term business - hence, employment, income and food security for my household.

With the grant money, Iman was able to buy goods and refurbish her shop, and she has seen an increase in business. Iman is part of a group of six women who set up their own business group and support each other while developing their own businesses. The grant from UNDP’s project was divided equally among them, on the understanding that it was to be used only for small businesses that have the potential to bring long-term income.