I am a widow, 48 years old, and almost could not go to school. As a consequence of it all, I had almost no opportunities to access a good job that would allow me to help my 11 orphaned grandchildren between the ages of 9 and 17. However, I decided to start a business, and I now have two businesses to pay for my son’s university.
The microfinance institution BRAC Uganda provided me with a microcredit of €125. With this, I started my two businesses: the sale of roast chickens that I previously buy, kill, clean, and cook for people who return home from work and, later, for those hungry ones who leave the surrounding bars. I’m in the stall until I’ve sold all the chickens, sometimes well past midnight. I also have a business for the sale of drinking water.
I am aware that I cannot afford any decrease in my income since I have to support my grandchildren. With the chickens business, I get weekly benefits of about €30. Water does not give me too high of an income, but it is enough to offset the drop in sales that sometimes occurs in the sale of chickens.