Mama Elisabeth is 50 years old and has been a communicant at The Apostolic Church Mokala for 10 years now. She was in a cohabiting relationship for 20years which were full of misery but she kept bearing it because she had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The man finally sent her packing some 14 years ago with a baby, Okon Alloys, who was just three months old. She moved from Ezeka to Manoka, then to Douala and finally to Yome 2. It was here that she became born-again and surrendered her life to Christ. All her immediate family members are dead but for two sisters who are both widows and are unable to assist her in anyway. She lives in a house she made herself using palm branches.
Her major source of income is helping others carry, dry and sell fish for a commission which she uses to help feed herself and her son but this is hardly able to sustain them. When there’s no fish, she fries and sells puff balls. Life became so hard for her at a point and the Pastor of that district, Aben Jephtha, stepped in to assist and has been doing so in the little way he can. He was amongst a group of pastors I talked with about the charity works of TACC-friends so he brought up this case. He told me it is quite heavy on him especially as the boy is now in secondary school at College Lamine Douala.
If mama is able to have something more profitable to do, she will be able to take care of herself and the son especially his academics.
We talked with her and she said she will like to run her own fish business if she had the capital. Below is what she will need to commence the business:
– Fish (dried) =100 000frs
– Basket to carry the fish in = 5 000frs
– Polyethene (plastic) sheet to cover the fish with = 3 000frs
– Batch to display the fish on = 5 000frs
– Small table with locker = 10 000frs
– Commercial Umbrella = 7 000frs
– Transport = 10 000frs
– Rents for 3 months = 30 000frs
– Part of son’s fee (Added by Charity Committee) = 20 000frs
Total 190 000frs
NB: It was agreed by the Charity Committee that the money be handed to the Pastor who presented the case and has been helping her so he guides her and helps her in managing the money/business. The Committee, with the help of the Liaison Officer in charge of the case, will update the group every 3 months about the state of the business till the case is finally concluded dealt with (by the Committee). This will enable seriousness, accountability and sustainability from the beneficiary while ensuring follow-up from us.
