Haweya Ismail Jama, a 60-year-old mother and grandmother of eleven, lives in Gaacid village in Sanaag region. Her family derives its income from a mixture of farming activities and business — planting grains on their hectare of land and keeping livestock with small business. Business has been part of her life since she was young but her productivity was low because of lack business training and capital.
Haweya was one of the community that SOMJIR project targeted in Gaacid village, she participated in training on Self Help Group Approches (SHG) which aimed to persuade the trainees the meaning of SHG, understanding how it works, responsibilities and duties of the SHG members as well as teaching the participants the advantages of book keeping, loans among group members and capital management.
After formed SHG group consist of 15 women called Dalsan SHG and trained, small grants were given and every member received $300 to improve their business and to pay the circulation money (Hagbad) among the SHG members. This small grant improved Haweya’s business, as she describes.
” Iam the chairperson of Dalsan SHG, we are thankful to candlelight for their training and the small grants they provided us, every member received $300 and the total amount was $4500, this grant supported my business and I got more profit. I use to buy and sell honey, frankincense and daily household consumption like sugar, rice etc…”
Haweya Ismail working in her small shop in Gaacid village Haweya Ismail working in her small shop in Gaacid village Haweeya standing in front of her small business
