Qadan, a budding business owner in Hargeisa, Somaliland went from selling one kilogram of rice or spaghetti per day in her restaurant, to five kilograms.
Her daily income has doubled, and the lives of her six children has changed. Her menu consists of Somali pancakes, tea, and beans stew.
With her clientele growing, Qadan feels ready to include mutton, goat, and camel to her offering.
Qadan works only with one hand. The mother of six was born with the lower part of her left hand missing. But she does not allow the disability to slow her down.
You will find Qadan in her element pilling potatoes, chopping onions, vegetables, garlic and cooking for her customers. The only needs help to lift the heavy stuff.
“I am happy with our lives right now. One thing that inspires me the most is that I have food – nutritious food to give my children” says Qadan.
“I saw my neighbours give their children nutritious food and I felt bad because I could not afford it. But now I can provide for my children. I can buy whatever they need.” Her children are aged 12, 11, 9, 8, 5, and 1 year old.
The beginning
Qadan turned her passion for cooking into a business four years ago, when her husband and family’s breadwinner stopped working after a head injury in a car accident. For a while, the neighbours provided the family with food, but it was hardly enough, and the children were suffering.
Qadan set up her restaurant, made simply of wood and iron sheets, outside her house easily juggle between work, home chores and childcare responsibilities.
The beginning was tough and the sales poor. Qadan could not send her children to school and the family ate the customers leftovers.
Growth
Growth for Qadan came after a team from the SOS Children’s Villages Family Strengthening Programme trained her in hygiene, business management, parenting and childcare.
Then she joined a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and accessed a small loan of 300 US dollars – money she used to expand her business.
The family strengthening services helps families facing hardship to build their livelihood to levels that are productive and profitable, moving them from surviving too thriving. With regular income, these families can protect and care for their children, and set them up for success.
“Before SOS, [SOS Children’s Villages], my customers sat on a mat on the floor or on jerricans,” says Qadan. “I did not have chairs. My service was poor and those clients I served once did not return. “With the revolving loan, I was able to buy the plastic tables, chairs, and a fridge to cool the water and juices. My restaurant is now making a real good profit. I feed my children on special dishes like meat, eggs, and fish for their nutrition, and pay their school fees. I am doing well now.”
Public primary education is free in Somaliland, but low-income families are unable to meet the cost of school supplies, uniforms, transportation costs and fees for teachers’ salaries.
Data from UNICEF (2019) shows that one in every two children in Somaliland does not have an opportunity to go to school. Poverty, drought, food insecurity, and inequality are the main obstacles.
“Today we went to school to learn, math, science and English,” says 12-year-old Suda, Qadan’s eldest child.
“I tried to focus as much as I could to understand. I like English more than any other subject because the teacher is very good. I would like to be a teacher one day to help other children become smart.”
