Fatou from Mali:

Fatou runs a small produce business and dreams of expanding it

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Fatou comes from Mali and grew up in a large family. Her family life was lively, but not always easy, because the family moved several times. Because of financial difficulties, Fatou had to leave school early. She learned many practical skills in everyday life, especially by helping her mother sell food at the market. This helped her develop a good sense of people, products and trade. Fatou is a single mother of three children.
Fatou migrated for financial reasons. She first came alone, because she wanted to support her children and prepare a more stable future for them. In the host country, many things were new for her: the language, the rules, the authorities and the labour market. At first, she took simple jobs so that she could earn enough money for her family and prepare the next steps. This was emotionally difficult, because her children were central to everything she was doing. Fatou had to manage many things on her own, but she kept going and used her practical skills to build a new path. Over time, she noticed that some things became easier. She became more confident in daily life and felt proud of what she had already achieved.
Over time, Fatou built a small fruit and vegetable business. Through her business, she has contact with many people in the neighbourhood and in the migrant community. She also makes short TikTok videos about her everyday life as a migrant mother and small business owner. These videos give her contact, motivation and visibility. In addition, she uses her creativity by sewing traditional and modern clothes for herself and her children.
Fatou wants to expand her small fruit and vegetable business into a stable grocery store. To do this, she would like to improve her language skills and learn more about running a business, managing money and dealing with customers and authorities. A friend told her that there are counselling services and training opportunities for people who want to build or grow a small business. Fatou would like to use this support and plans to make an appointment for business counselling. She hopes this will help her strengthen what she already knows from experience and learn more about the next steps, such as planning, costs, permits and possible funding. Her first goal is to create more financial security for her family. In the long term, she would like her business to create work opportunities for other people in the migrant community.