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Raising a child through a tea cart
Appears in
Published 2023
When my mother was left as a single mother in Sudan, she needed to work out how to provide for us really quickly. Returning to be a maid wasn’t viable as most maids were live-in and required to stay with the family six days a week. So, the best option was for my mum to be a street vendor.
She would sell tea, coffee and icy poles from the verandah of our house. Many habesha women sold tea and coffee from the side of the street and in front of office buildings.
This was a relatively accessible business with minimal fixed costs, thus minimal financial risk. This also allowed women to choose their hours, which made it easier with childrearing.