Help Women in Sudan Open a Bakery

Meet Tabu, a participant in WfWI - South Sudan's program based in Yei. She will be graduating from WfWI's holistic, 12-month training program this month, where she will have gained knowledge of her rights, basic business skills and vocational training in a skill such as a baking, so that when she graduates she will be able to provide a living for herself and her family.

My name is Tabu and I am 25 years old. I live in Kiniba village in Yei River County, Central Equatoria, South Sudan. I attended school but unfortunately I dropped out in primary five, since my father could not afford to pay school fees. I started brewing beverages to earn income and in the process of selling them I met a man who married at the age of 16 years. We have 3 children.

Domestic violence: My husband beat me whenever he was drunk. As much as I tried to advocate for my rights family and friends did not listen to me. I tried talking to my husband when he was not drunk, but he did not listen.

Enrolment and impact of WfWI program – I was happy to hear about the program by Women for Women International and got enrolled for training that commenced in April 2013. I was feeling powerless and felt that this program would empower me to know my rights and more so face the challenges I was facing of domestic violence. I was very excited to receive the participant ID card from WfWI. However my husband was annoyed at me for attending the trainings and tore the ID card and battered me in the process. I shared this with staff of WfWI who were supportive to me. I realized that the training was important for me and with that made a decision to leave my husband. I went back to my parent’s home and I am now happy to attend the trainings without interferences from my husband.

The trainings helped me to face the challenges in my home and felt empowered to make a decision to leave abusive husband. I have also learnt about saving as a way of and sustaining an income through business.  I started the business in July after saving the training stipend for three months and now makes a profit  so I have saved 300 SSP (about 100 USD) out of my business. The business helped me to support my children in school and also my mother. In the trainings I learned saving skills, business and how to plan and manage my house hold income

I never borrowed money for starting the business but only used my sister’s household utensils to start the business. I rent the room for 20ssp per month. My immediate plans are to support my children in school and buy mobile phone for communication.