My mother is so proud of me

“For six months the city of Aden was completely dead, but we had to eat. I decided that I was going to go to the market and sell the bread that my mother makes. In the beginning, it was very difficult because I was the only woman in the market. I used to get so many comments from people, but it didn’t matter. For me, the only thing that mattered was the happiness I saw in my mother’s face.”

As well as working in the market, Wafa also gave private tuition to children in grades seven and six to earn extra money. Both these jobs were not enough to help her continue her education.

“Whatever I did it wasn’t enough to make the money I needed,” she says. “Then one of my friends asked me to join an entrepreneurship training provided by CARE. It was a real turning point for me. First I started to learn a new occupation and made new friends; then I was extremely happy when I received a business grant to start my project – a small shop selling flowers and accessories.

“I learnt how to engage better with customers and how to market my products. My shop went from being empty to being well stocked with artificial flowers, accessories and makeup. I started making a profit. Later, I made a deal with a friend of mine who makes accessories: she makes them and I sell them. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity CARE gave me. It empowered me. My income has now increased and my shop has more variety. I was able to go back to university and today I am a student in my third year. My friends look to me as an example and my mother is so proud of me.”