23-07-2024 | di COOPI

Somalia. Breaking inequality barriers: Amran's story of gender empowerment

Amran Abdi Farah, a 27-year-old mother of two residing in Beritir village, is one of the beneficiaries selected to attend a six-month vocational training for market demand-driven skills delivered by COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale and the Somali Resilience Program (SomReP) as part of the phase 5 of the project “Somali Enhanced Resilience Through Inclusive Economic/Market Systems Development and Climate Smart Approaches (SERECA)”, implemented from July 2023 to June 2024 with funding from Australia NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The project aims to support women, persons with disabilities, agro-pastoralists and pastoralists have access to market-systems and inclusive financial and business development services.

Amran's journey was marked by a community where women's economic opportunities and financial independence were severely limited. However, it was her unyielding pursuit of equality and desire to secure a better future for her children that led her to being chosen, through community-based targeting, for the training.

I was trained in dressmaking and tailoring. After completion, I received a sewing machine, tailoring materials, and a start-up grant to earn a livelihood” 

Despite experiencing divorce right after completing the training, her determination to change her life circumstances remained strong enough to continue pursue her career.

I was driven and motivated to change my life for better. During that period, my husband and I got divorced, which shocked me to the core, but I managed to move on with my family and care for my children”, 

Amra explains.

Village Savings and Loan Associations

Amran's journey took a transformative turn when she decided to join a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), a group consisting of members who pool their resources by depositing a small amount of money regularly and use it to fund loans made available within the group, which she discovered through COOPI. The group allowed Amra to invest in income-generation activities.

I started by saving $200 while contributing a small amount to the group, and I received a first loan of $600 from the group. With that, I started a small business selling whole foods, vegetables, and sweets in my village.” 

The additional economic revenues gained through this business enabled Amran to climb up the ladder of poverty, boosting her food business and finally meeting her financial needs:

Through hard work and consistency, I built a loyal customer base within the village and neighboring communities. I was able to repay my loan and save money for future investments. As my business expanded, I took subsequent loans to purchase additional inventory, and improved my stall” 

The success of her business not only provided Amran with a sustainable income but also empowered her within her community. She gained newfound respect and recognition as a successful businesswoman, breaking the gender norms that had limited opportunities for Somali women.

Breaking Barriers Campaign

It is precisely during this current year that Amran’s journey has been crossed by another life-changing opportunity. In 2024, Amran participated in the Breaking Barriers campaign through COOPI and SomReP, aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable society where women have equal opportunities, rights and representation, by increasing awareness and carrying out collective campaigns.

This campaign has helped me recognize worth, develop a stronger sense of self, and believe in my ability to overcome challenges and achieve my goals now more than ever. 

Amran is deeply thankful to COOPI and SomReP for being selected to participate in this campaign, and is convinced it will lead to new opportunities, collaborations and connections within her community. 

My mindset is different and enhanced after this campaign, allowing me to see the barriers clearly, help women with their personal growth, and develop a resilient mindset.” 

Thanks to ANCP, SOMREP and COOPI for giving me the opportunity to change my life, empowering me to better my children’s future, and be an example to all the Somali women,”

an appreciative Amran concludes.

COOPI has been present in Somalia since 1981, and has been part of the Somali Resilience Program (SomReP) consortium since 2012, with which it implements resilience programmes in the Bay and Gedo regions and intervenes in the districts of Baidoa, Dollow and Belet-Hawa. In each intervention, COOPI integrates one or more cross-cutting areas, namely Protection, Gender, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction, depending on the context.