Fardosa Hussein is a 37-years refugee woman who fled the war in Somalia with her 9 children and sought refuge in Dadaab in 2011. Life in the refugee camp was tough, and Fardosa had to work hard to provide for her family. She started working as a cleaner at the UNHCR compounds, waking up at 5 am every day to make food at a restaurant before trekking for an hour to get to her job. In the evenings, she would make and sell chips and samosas at a makeshift kiosk in front of her house.
Despite the challenges, Fardosa remained determined to give her children a better life. She saved as little as 10 shillings ($1) a day and joined a savings group in 2017, which helped her open a small stall selling chips, samosas, vegetables, and other groceries. She continued to save and eventually purchased a piece of land in 2022. With the expansion of her business, she opened a bigger shop stocking beauty products, clothing, groceries, and running a restaurant.
To keep up with the market, grow further, and meet rising client demand, Fardosa joined Inkomoko and enrolled in the entrepreneurship training program. She received training in bookkeeping, inventory management, and investment readiness, which she applied to increase her clients and grow her business. With the expansion of her business, she employed 9 people from within the community to help her with the day-to-day operations.
“I’m really glad I got to know about Inkomoko at the time I did. My business was growing so fast and I needed someone to give me the best direction. That is what Inkomoko has done for me. I also look forward to securing an affordable loan from Inkomoko so I can put every trending thing on the market in my shop.” says Fardosa.
Through her hard work, determination, and Inkomoko’s support, Fardosa has been able to provide more than three meals for her children, something that was impossible before. She has also managed to take her children to private schools and sustain them there. Her business success has enabled her to rebuild a good life in Kenya, and she no longer thinks of going back to Somalia. Instead, she is now focused on buying a car and obtaining Kenyan citizenship.
Fardosa’s story is a testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship and the importance of providing support to refugees and displaced communities. Through her entrepreneurial journey, Fardosa has not only been able to provide for her family but has also created job opportunities for others in her community. Inkomoko’s training programs have played a critical role in supporting her entrepreneurial growth, and this has enabled her to achieve success in a challenging environment. Fardosa’s story is one of resilience, determination, and hope, and it inspires us all to strive for a better future, no matter the challenges we face.
Asking her what one word she would use to describe herself, Fardosa smiles and says, “I am a safe haven for my family. I want to give them everything that I have.”
