Ekua was barely able to provide for her loved ones. Living in Gambia with her husband, who was out of work, she became the sole provider. She was selling dried fish at the market and earning paltry profits, so the little food she could afford was not nearly enough to nourish her family.

Without enough food, her children suffered, and their health continued to deteriorate. Ekua was forced to borrow money from her neighbors just to avoid starvation. With the most basic needs unmet, education became a luxury, and her children were removed from school.

Everything changed in June.

Ekua overheard some women in the market discussing ADRA’s microfinance project, and she decided to investigate. When she learned about the business management and personal finance training that accompanies every microloan, she applied immediately and was soon accepted into the program.

Today, Ekua operates a successful dried fish business. With the money from her loan, she secured several bulk orders from local fishermen and constructed a mud oven for more efficient smoking and drying. Because of this thriving dried fish enterprise, her family eats three nutritious meals every day and her children are back in school.

“I am really proud of ADRA’s microfinance project,” says Ekua. “I pray that ADRA will continue to help other needy women like myself.”