Presentation: Lona makes sure her produce is eyecatching to passersby
An income-generationg programme has assisted a single mother to earn a decent living for her family
Andrew Ewoku
Opposite an immigration police station in Juba, a bright fruit stall opens up each morning. It is the pride and joy of Lona Sabino, a 50-year-old single mother of four.
Her fresh mangoes, oranges, bananas, apples and paw paws entice those going about their business in this busy part of the city.
“I am known as the ‘Fruits Mama’, and it makes me happy,’’ she says.
However, before Lona joined ForAfrika’s Urban Safety Net Programme, her life had been one of struggle and hardship.
Struggle and hardship
During the civil war in South Sudan, Lona spent most of her adult life in Adjumani Refugee Camp in Uganda. She decided to return home in 2022 after the situation stablised. She and her family could not return to their ancestral farm since it had been ravaged by floods. Lona, who also suffers from a chronic illness, tried to grow vegetables in her back garden, but the income from that was never enough to feed her children and mother, Fedensio.
Then, last year she was selected to be part of the income-generating activity programme, run by ForAfrika where she was trained in business skills and received start-up capital of 200,000 SSP (approximately $70) for her fruit stall.
“I was overjoyed when I was selected as a beneficiary for this business. It came as a surprise because throughout my life, I have never had a favour this big. I have always struggled to be accepted in my community because of my condition. I also suffered domestic violence and even left my marriage before my husband died. Before ForAfrika picked me and my mother as beneficiaries, life was always a struggle,” she says, wiping away a tear.
But, her fruit stall is booming and Lona was happy to share that she makes a profit of about $210 per month.
Covering fees and meals
“I can now budget for children’s school and university fees and I am able to provide three meals a day for my family,” she said, the tears replaced with a smile.
The Urban Safety Net Programme is sponsored by the World Food Programme and identifies families most in need of assistance and upskilling.
Andrew Ewoku is Communications Specialist in South Sudan.
