Dili, October 22, 2024 (Média Democracia) – Ivonia Soares, 19, from Bobonaru, currently lives in the Tasi-tolu Quarantine complex, having dropped out of school to earn a living in Dili by starting a small business such as selling cigarettes on the sidewalk to support her family.
According to Ivonia, for three years she ran a small business selling cigarettes on the roadside. This business was done to get money to meet daily needs and some to send to her family in the municipality.
“The money I used to run this business I got from my grandmother in 2021, she gave me 100,00 USD but at that time I didn’t know what to do with the money, therefore my cousin and I decided to come to Dili to buy cigarettes to run the business, then at that time I immediately came to Dili after a week I used the money to buy LA cigarettes, and I started selling on the side of the road to get money.” She said
She continued, the cigarettes she sells are bought by people every day from morning to evening. She always gets $20.00, if in good times sometimes can go up to $30.00 more because she sells from morning to evening at 18.00.
“I use some of the money I earn for my own needs and some to pay for boarding, and mostly I use the rest to buy rice and other goods to send to my family in the municipality. Even though my income is not much, I am always grateful to God because I can meet my needs,” She added.
She added, although there are many people who sell on the roadside, she still tries to compete with others. Because, if she wants to get money must be able to use time well so that she can get money to meet her needs so as not to depend on others.
To clarify, Ivonia comes from Bobonaru and has the intention to run a business to meet the needs of herself and her family in the municipality. Although during selling cigarettes in the hot weather and facing several obstacles, this did not become an obstacle for her to stop running the business.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Photo : Nelfiano