Despite losing her husband and having to support four children of her own and two orphans, Akopoka Salifu (45) has still found the strength to rise above her hardship to run the "Happy Woman's Chop Bar."
"After the death of my husband, I had to battle it out alone in catering for my children" she says. ..It was difficult feeding and clothing them. The little money I had all went into the payment of their school fees. I had no money left after paying their fees and this affected my ability to take care of my entire household. This almost turned me into a pauper because I sometimes felt like begging to make up for my poverty",
However, Akopoka's desire to survive prompted her to set up the chop bar. This lofty venture engaged her in something profitable and enhanced her capacity to lift her family and herself from the brink of absolute starvation.
“Now, I work through out the day to get something for my children. I wake up every day at 4 a.m. to fetch water for cooking. After this, I set up fire and prepare my food. I usually prepare rice balls, banku (fermented maize meal) and Wakye (rice and beans) every other day which I start selling around 7 a.m. to my customers. I usually sell until the evening ", she reveals.
“Because of this routine work, I hardly have the time to take care of my 4 children and 2 orphans who are all attending school. My younger sister therefore takes care of them whiles I concentrate on the chop bar. This is the only way we can survive".
Despite her bold venture, she has found it difficult running the business effectively and profitably without assistance because she lacks adequate capital. That is why Akopoka is very grateful to World Vision Ghana (WV) in Bongo for the assistance extended to her and some 600 women in Bongo central. She is a member of Alangube women's group, which is benefiting from a credit scheme instituted by World Vision in Bongo.
“It used to be hard for me to manage the bar because I bought my food stuff on credit since J had no initial capital. This had the effect of increasing the price of my food. Consequently, I got very little or no profit at all from my sales", declares Akopoka.
Ever since I got 500 thousand cedis as credit from World Vision Ghana, I no longer buy food stuff on credit and this has improved my profit and family income. This is because the interest rate on the loan is very moderate. I am now able to pay my children's school fees as well as feed, buy clothing and sandals for my six children and myself. I also recently bought a goat from the profits I have made”.
She also says that in addition to credit, she has benefited from training programmes instituted by WV for her group. These include training in financial management, family life education, childcare, environmental and personal hygiene, moral education etc. Her group is also embarking on a poultry project.
Her children, Ruby, Richard, Denis, Scooner, Kofi and David are witnesses to the complete turn of events in their home. They are still students of Selibga primary school in Bongo because their mother has managed to pay their school fees promptly. Eleven year old Ruby Napoka Salifu, the only girl among the six children, states that "my stay in primary four would have come to an end if my mother did not pay my school fees early. This would have been very disastrous for me. My mother used to find it hard paying the fees for my brothers and me but now she is doing fine. My mother has also bought me some new dresses and a beautiful shoe. This time I don't have to wear thorn clothes in the house".
"I don't go hungry any more like the days before. Now, I get to eat three meals a day and that is what matters to me most. Not only has the quantity of food increased in the house but the quality has also gone up", declares 12 year old Richard Salifu.
For all the assistance extended to them by WV, Akopoka Salifu is most grateful. " I am very grateful for the help because it has made me credit worthy. It has enabled me to expand my business and I pray for their continued support", she discloses.
"After the death of my husband, I had to battle it out alone in catering for my children" she says. ..It was difficult feeding and clothing them. The little money I had all went into the payment of their school fees. I had no money left after paying their fees and this affected my ability to take care of my entire household. This almost turned me into a pauper because I sometimes felt like begging to make up for my poverty",
However, Akopoka's desire to survive prompted her to set up the chop bar. This lofty venture engaged her in something profitable and enhanced her capacity to lift her family and herself from the brink of absolute starvation.
“Now, I work through out the day to get something for my children. I wake up every day at 4 a.m. to fetch water for cooking. After this, I set up fire and prepare my food. I usually prepare rice balls, banku (fermented maize meal) and Wakye (rice and beans) every other day which I start selling around 7 a.m. to my customers. I usually sell until the evening ", she reveals.
“Because of this routine work, I hardly have the time to take care of my 4 children and 2 orphans who are all attending school. My younger sister therefore takes care of them whiles I concentrate on the chop bar. This is the only way we can survive".
Despite her bold venture, she has found it difficult running the business effectively and profitably without assistance because she lacks adequate capital. That is why Akopoka is very grateful to World Vision Ghana (WV) in Bongo for the assistance extended to her and some 600 women in Bongo central. She is a member of Alangube women's group, which is benefiting from a credit scheme instituted by World Vision in Bongo.
“It used to be hard for me to manage the bar because I bought my food stuff on credit since J had no initial capital. This had the effect of increasing the price of my food. Consequently, I got very little or no profit at all from my sales", declares Akopoka.
Ever since I got 500 thousand cedis as credit from World Vision Ghana, I no longer buy food stuff on credit and this has improved my profit and family income. This is because the interest rate on the loan is very moderate. I am now able to pay my children's school fees as well as feed, buy clothing and sandals for my six children and myself. I also recently bought a goat from the profits I have made”.
She also says that in addition to credit, she has benefited from training programmes instituted by WV for her group. These include training in financial management, family life education, childcare, environmental and personal hygiene, moral education etc. Her group is also embarking on a poultry project.
Her children, Ruby, Richard, Denis, Scooner, Kofi and David are witnesses to the complete turn of events in their home. They are still students of Selibga primary school in Bongo because their mother has managed to pay their school fees promptly. Eleven year old Ruby Napoka Salifu, the only girl among the six children, states that "my stay in primary four would have come to an end if my mother did not pay my school fees early. This would have been very disastrous for me. My mother used to find it hard paying the fees for my brothers and me but now she is doing fine. My mother has also bought me some new dresses and a beautiful shoe. This time I don't have to wear thorn clothes in the house".
"I don't go hungry any more like the days before. Now, I get to eat three meals a day and that is what matters to me most. Not only has the quantity of food increased in the house but the quality has also gone up", declares 12 year old Richard Salifu.
For all the assistance extended to them by WV, Akopoka Salifu is most grateful. " I am very grateful for the help because it has made me credit worthy. It has enabled me to expand my business and I pray for their continued support", she discloses.
No comments:
Post a Comment