Dili, January 20, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Casilda de Fatima, 73 years old, from Maliana, Bobonaru, now lives in Comoro, Dili. She runs a small business to meet her daily needs.
According to Casilda de Fatima, she has been living her life as a trader, selling on the side of the road every day because she wants to meet her living needs and send her children to school.
“Even though I am old, I still work with my abilities, because if I just stay at home every day, there is no money, so we have to do everything ourselves. Selling on the side of the road, even though sometimes it is difficult, lika Dili Municipal Guard always comes and chases us away and confiscates our merchandise, but I still sell so I can get money to meet my needs.” She said.
She continued, the merchandise that she uses every day for small-scale selling on the side of the road such as sweet potatoes, mangoes, chilies, and others because these items sell easily and do not rot quickly.
“The goods I use to run this small business are sweet potatoes, mangoes, chilies and others. The goods I use to run this business I use my own money, not borrowing from others. When we borrow money from others and do not pay it back every month then it can be a problem for my life because I do not have the power to pay other people’s money.” She added.
She added that even though the money she earned every day was small, it was not a problem for her business because this business could help her to meet her daily needs.
“The money I earn every day is $4.00 to $7.00 and above, but I feel that it is enough to meet my daily needs. If we do not do business to make money, who will be responsible for our needs? It is better for us to use our own strength to continue trying to run the business to earn money to meet our needs.” She said.
To further explain that even though Casilda is old, it is not an obstacle for her to run a roadside business, because through a small business she can meet the needs of her family. She believes that her daily activities filled with love from God will continue to open her mind to run a business in order to earn income to meet her daily needs.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Picture by : Nelfiano