Life is easier for a mother of seven

The father of her seven children, five boys and two girls aged between 19 and five years old, was the family’s breadwinner. Awadiya had limited job opportunities at her disposal because she married young and did not go to school.

Unsure and afraid, she leaned on the culinary skills she had to bake and sell sweetened pastries. She sold them with milk at the market in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, earning herself 150 Sudanese pounds (1.20 USD) per day. 

“Very low income,” says Awadiya. “I could not pay for school expenses or food for my children. I could not afford good shelter or to see a doctor. I used herbal treatment when my children got sick. Our standard of living was very low,” she says. 

Her second-born son, Moko,* had to drop out of school to work and help his mother provide for the family. “I cannot express how sad that made me feel,” says Awadiya.

“I was 12 years old when I gave up my studies to work,” says Moko. “I cleaned cars from morning to evening at a car wash located in front of a motor vehicle repair shop in the city. It was hard, tiring work. I gave to my mother the money I brought home for her to buy food for my younger brothers and sisters.” 

Support services from the SOS family strengthening programme gave the single mum new hope for her family. When she joined the programme in the first quarter of 2018, her children received education support in the form of school fees, uniforms and other supplies. Moko returned to class after being away for one year.

The family were registered with the national health insurance to access quality healthcare, and Awadiya trained on childcare, child protection and child rights. She also attended multiple counselling sessions for her psychological well-being. 

Her great drive to succeed opened for her an opportunity to attend training in small projects management under the guidance of the Sudanese Woman Development Association. 

In October 2019, the mother of seven opened a traditional eatery serving homemade meals. The family strengthening team supported her with stock and furniture for her new venture. With time, her business has flourished, and what started as a small business to generate sufficient money for her family has accomplished much more. 

“The most important achievement for me was the ability to build a safe home for my children,” explains Awadiya. “Our previous house was made of mud and sticks; it collapsed three times during the rainy season, risking the lives of my children. The new house is made of bricks. In this new house, I have been able to build an additional two rooms, plus a special section for the children, to respect their privacy and pursue their hobbies.”Awadiya hopes to do more work on the house until it takes the shape she envisages. 

Covid-19 effect

While Awadiya was happy enjoying the success of her eatery, Covid-19 struck in early 2020. Businesses in Sudan closed for a while during the lockdown that ensued. This greatly reduced Awadiya’s income and threatened the financial freedom she had worked so hard to achieve. 

To cope with the difficult situation, the SOS team provided Awadiya and other vulnerable households with emergency food packages to sustain them during the lockdown. The SOS team also organised awareness sessions and distributed soap and hand sanitisers. 

Even though Awadiya lost a huge chunk of her income during the lockdown, she has gradually found her footing with the easing of restrictions. She supports her family with ease, indulging her children and buying stuff she once considered luxurious. Her children are growing up carefree, attending school and enjoying their childhood.

Moko is in grade eight and no longer carries the responsibility of feeding his siblings. “These days, my mother is able to meet our needs,” says the 16-year-old. “She even bought us clothes and cookies during religious celebrations like Eid. I am so confident about the future. I want to be a mechanical engineer. The positive thing that came out of the bad situation when I was working at the car wash is that I acquired skills in repairing vehicles and loved it. I desire to make a career out of that experience.”

With life now easier for Awadiya, she has gained confidence in herself and interacts more with women in her community, participating in their monthly meetings. “I feel relieved, comfortable and I have stopped overthinking about the day to day provisions and survival of my children. I am now thinking about the future.”

*Name changed to protect the privacy of the child.

*Text and photo by Mohamed Sabah​.