Recovering from Boko Haram: nigeria-201810-emillstein-4075_1

October 2018, Biu, Nigeria. Fatima, 17, in her family's home. She started her own business selling sugar. She was motivated to start after learning about savings and money management in Mercy Corps’ I-SING program, which provides safe spaces, livelihood grants and vocational training to vulnerable youth in Boko Haram affected communities in Nigeria.Now she sells in two locations — her home and her father’s retail shop — and saves the income between a home bank and the Mercy Corps-facilitated savings group (VSLA) where she is a member. When the VSLA pays out next month, she is excited to build her business even more. Even though her family is struggling to meet their needs, Fatima is determined to finish school and be self-sufficient, believing independent women are the key to development. She wants to be a midwife when she is older, so she can help women more.

October 2018, Biu, Nigeria. Fatima, 17, in her family's home. She started her own business selling sugar. She was motivated to start after learning about savings and money management in Mercy Corps’ I-SING program, which provides safe spaces, livelihood grants and vocational training to vulnerable youth in Boko Haram affected communities in Nigeria.

Now she sells in two locations — her home and her father’s retail shop — and saves the income between a home bank and the Mercy Corps-facilitated savings group (VSLA) where she is a member. When the VSLA pays out next month, she is excited to build her business even more. Even though her family is struggling to meet their needs, Fatima is determined to finish school and be self-sufficient, believing independent women are the key to development. She wants to be a midwife when she is older, so she can help women more.