Aboudi Mekong Justine is a very modest woman. She didn’t get a chance to go any further at school. What concerns her most is offering her children a future. The mother of three would like to become a professional seamstress and invest the money she earns in her children’s education. For this reason, and despite the daily difficulties, she works night and day in her workshop located in the Efoulan district in the heart of the Cameroonian capital.
Aboudi Mekong Justine is still sitting behind an old sewing machine, on which are piled fabrics and other materials, such as scissors, threads, etc… Her sewing workshop located on the side of the road leading to the Town Hall of Efoulan consists of an old container that her husband installed 5 years ago. Inside the container are more or less filled shelves. There are plastic bales and other bags filled with fabrics and clothes that customers have given her for making and finishing. As another activity it also sells sweetened drinks to passers-by and can thus make ends meet in order to support its expenses, such as rent, electricity and mobile telephony. She had also received her sewing machine as her husband’s starting capital.
With her income from work, she also contributes to the family life. Her husband is the main financial supporter. He is military and earns 300 $ per month. Too inadequate to meet all daily needs.
During an interview with Fred-Eric Essam, who visited Cameroon 3 months ago, she said: “It is better that I be independent. “I don’t want help, I’m looking for a loan I’ll pay back. My question of how much she earns by working or selling clothes, she has no answer. She never really thought about it. “I’m working from one day to the next hoping to earn a living.”
Aboudi Mekong Justine is 31 years old, was born on 1 April 1987 and has 3 children. She could not continue school after the primary school certificate. His parents being unable to finance the school. The sewing she took to the neighborhood.
Like Justine, small entrepreneurs in Cameroon have little access to capital. She needs 500$ to expand her workshop in the capital Yaounde. With this money she will be able to buy her own sewing machine to make children’s and women’s clothes based on “Pagnes”, coloured African fabrics. She also has no hesitation in making classic women’s fashion, depending on the clientele. “Women are aware of fashion in Cameroon, after all,” she says.
Later, she will invest her earnings in a professional sewing machine. Also an iron, a table with chairs and other materials. Perhaps by doing more, she will eventually achieve her main goal. Become a professional, even creative seamstress.
