Hawa Suliman, a hard-working Sudanese refugee living in the Bweyale settlement, has been striving to improve her household income through her charcoal business. Initially, the business wasn’t as profitable as she had hoped. However, thanks to the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI) project implemented through the Kandaakiat Organization for Women Empowerment and Development of the start-up capital support she received, she was able to restock and expand her business. This, in turn, helped her grow her Sudanese perfume business, which she previously ran from home, producing Khumra (it’s a special Sudanese perfume for married women) and Bukur (wooden perfumed air freshener).
From June to September, she saw significant income growth from her charcoal and perfume businesses. With the rapid success she experienced and additional financial support from her savings group, she is now venturing into a new opportunity—opening a restaurant. “I bought some dishes now. I want to open a restaurant and a coffee place where I will also be selling my perfumes on the side and working on both,” Hawa said.
Despite her achievements, she has faced challenges along the way, including stealing some of her perfumes and charcoal. To address this, she is planning to move her operations to a shop with better security and temporarily operate from her upcoming restaurant.
Hawa’s journey demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and determination. She is an inspiring example of how refugee entrepreneurs can successfully diversify their sources of income and seize new opportunities for growth, even in the face of challenges.
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