My name is Lara and I am twenty-five years old. I got married when I was seventeen. I thought getting married was about a big beautiful white dress, a party with all my friends, and lots of gifts. What I didn’t know was that marriage meant having to give up all of my dreams and ambitions, but most importantly my childhood.
My first years of marriage were very difficult. My husband used to beat and insult me and I didn’t do anything about it. But after I gave birth to my second child I knew I had to do something to make it stop so I went to my family’s house and I got divorced.
The conflict in Yemen escalated in March 2015 – four years ago. Things were already difficult after the revolution in 2011, with the economy starting to decline. However, the situation took a dramatic turn and quickly deteriorated in 2015 as civil servants like my father stopped receiving salaries and the cost of living in Yemen became much higher. I felt like I was a huge burden on my family especially as I have two children and their father can’t provide for them.
Desperate for a source of income to support my family, I started seeking other options. It is very difficult to find employment in Yemen these days and I felt that it would be better to start my own project. I also wanted to do something that would not only provide me with a stable income but would also define me and be in line with my beliefs.
I thought of having my own business through having an online account on Facebook and WhatsApp where I buy clothes, accessories and perfume and market them on social media. But I couldn’t do that because I didn’t have enough money to start my own business.
