Dili, January 16, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Silivina de Deus, 70 years old, from Atsabe, Ermera, now lives in Comoro. Her daily business is selling tobacco and other goods on the roadside to meet the needs of her family.
According to Silvina, for years she lived as a trader running a small business on the side of the road, so she could earn income to meet her daily needs.
“I have been selling for years but now I am old and I no longer have the energy to walk far to the municipality like before, before I still had the energy to buy goods to sell again, because in Dili, from the past until now as a place for people to earn a living in various ways. The goods that I used to use for our small business, I bought from other people who came from Liquiça, such as betel, tobacco and others.” She said.
She continued to sell the goods that she had been using to run her business, she always bought from the residents of Liquiça such as betel, tobacco and others, then she sold them again because if she just stayed at home, who else would help her.
“The items I buy have different prices, one stick of soft bua costs $7.50, so I resell one stick for 0.75 cents and for hard bua one stick costs $4.50, I resell one stick for 0.50 cents. Ten plastic bags of ahu cost $1.00, then I resell two plastic bags for 0.25 cents. Three plastic bags of tobacco cost $1.00, and I resell one plastic bag for $1.00. Three bundles of betel cost $1.00, and I resell one bundle for $1.00. I buy these items to run my business. Every day I get enough income, for example in a day I can get 8 USD to 10 USD and above, but it also depends on luck.” She added.
She emphasized that while running her business, even though her turnover was limited, it would not be a problem if her business stopped, the important thing was that she could make money every day to meet her daily needs.
To further explained that even though Silvina is old, she still tried hard to run a business on the side of the road, because life as a trader requires hard work. The activities she did do not make her feel tired or bored because she wanted to earn income to meet her daily needs.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Picture by : Nelfiano