Meet young women in our programs
Aziza
Aziza is 13-years-old and comes from a very impoverished family; she lives with her mother and 9 siblings in one room. Her mother is always sick and no one else in her house goes to school. But Aziza is brave and determined to succeed and go to school. She gets up very early in the morning at 6 AM to prepare hibiscus juice and milk for her youngest sister to sell in front of their house. Because school is very close to her home, she comes back to prepare lunch for her sisters and brothers. She works very hard at school and is always first in her class!
Kadi
Kadi comes from a polygamous family; her father has three wives. Together, 26 people share a dwelling with two bedrooms and one living room. Kadi liked school but two of her cousins began to bully her, calling her poor and ugly, and were hitting her every day to discourage her from going to class; she was so afraid she stayed home for one month.
One day after dance and theater classes at the Community Center, Kadi confided to a friend about her cousins’ harassment. After investigation, some of ANFE’s big sisters went to see Kadi’s cousins and their parents to settle this situation. Since then, Kadi has been able to go back to school and has become 2nd in her class; ANFE also enrolled her in karate classes for self defense and to help build her confidence.
Hawa
Hawa – a mother of eight, with five daughters and three sons – lives with her husband who works as a night guard and earns $20/month. They live in a single room and tent. She works washing clothes for people in wealthy neighborhoods. Because of her transportation costs, she was only earning $3/week income. After expenses, she had a budget of $9 per month.
With ANFE’s three-month financial program, Hawa took out a loan and began selling juice, biscuits, and snacks outside her home. Now, she washes clothes in the morning and sells products in the afternoon, watching her children while earning extra money for food. Hawa is determined to help her own daughters succeed and has enrolled all of them in school. ANFE sponsors her 8-year-old daughter Maimouna, who is thriving and consistently ranking first or second place in her class.
Maimouna
Maimouna is 14-years-old and has gone two years without going to school. When she was in middle school, her parents wanted her to marry a 45-year-old man, but she refused. So her parents took her by force and sent her to the village to punish her.
After several meetings and seeking help from religious figures and the ANFE’s Wise Women’s Group, her parents relented. Maimouna was finally allowed to come back to school and passed her exam to advance to the next class. She joined the group of young girls who advocate and raise awareness against early marriages. She is very active and dynamic in the group!
Aissata
Aissata was married at the age of 15 and her parents forced her to leave school.
After years of domestic abuse, she came to the ANFE Community Center for leadership training. With newfound support, Aissata was able to leave and divorce her abusive husband; she also went back to school with the support of volunteer teachers. A determined mother of three young children, Aissata has advanced quickly to the next grade. In only three years she will make it to university!
Bolele
Bolele divorced her husband after enduring domestic violence and had fled with her six daughters to stay with her sister. Altogether, there were 16 people living in the home. After two ANFE loans, Bolele bought plates, utensils, and pots for event rentals such as weddings, baptisms, anniversaries. Her business has succeeded, allowing her to move out from her sister’s into a two-room rental. Bolele also encouraged her sister to join ANFE; she did and now sells vegetables and fruits at the market. All of their daughters returned to school this year with ANFE’s help.