Selling Food, an easy way to get started.
Melina (21), Mage (22), and Kashinde (21), pictured in the middle, joined the VITUNU youth group in January 2019 hoping to share life with the least of their fellow girls. The group is situated at Chang’ombe nearby their residences. While in the group, the three girls share their experience likewise peace of mind as the group members keep supporting each other. For Melina, Kashinde, and Magreth life was not easy as they could not escape the early pregnant trap before the age of 18 years, with less support and mistreatment from their partners who kept blaming them for unexpected pregnancies. The situation was worse for Mage whose spouse disappeared leaving her in dilemma, without any care, so that she had to stay with her sister in a rented two rooms house constructed of muddy bricks and with a decayed roof.
Working with Chang’ombe champions helped KISEDET youth officers to reach Mage and her two friends who were ready to join the youth association. During the trade workshop, out of 49 participants who attended the training, they were among the youths who opted for the food production course.
From school to business
The three girls attended courses based on youth association models such as one-day workshops, life skills, and linkage to vocational training centers to attend a food production course for three months. Having completed their course from Boboya East Africa college they have managed to employ themselves as food vendor owning their cafeteria at Chang’ombe in Dodoma. When supported with startup kits, the three girls decided not to depart when the course duration was over, they agreed to work together for a joint business.
KISEDET feels proud of Mage, Kashinde and Melina not only because they were able to finish their course but also their ambition and passion for their business of selling food. “My wish is to see we do own a big restaurant to accommodate many customers at once,” Melina said. Despite the challenges sometimes they face, still the girls are working hard to address them, such as competition from the nearby cafeteria and small capital of Tshs 25,000 (US$ 10). One of the initiatives to get this in place is a mobile service whereby some of the customers place their orders and get served while at home. “We serve our customers to their needs, we know we cannot have all the varieties in our cafeteria yet for the time being we make sure that our customers get served with delicious food available from our cafeteria” Mage emphasized. Their capital is now growing to Tshs 45,000/= (US$ 20)
“Our goal is to offer catering services soon, where we are going to be next. Our life has been saved by the information and teachings that KISEDET does and we just want to thank you for that. And yes if you ever want to mention us on any of your shows, please feel free to do so” Kashinde said.
“You are another living example that if you just stick to it and keeping utilizing the tools offered to you from those with the experience, you too can be a successful food vendor” Theresa Ntui, Chang’ombe Community Development officer when visited the girls.