Dili, April 10, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Domingas Mesquita (65 years old), a resident of Fomentu II, Comoro Village, Dom Aleixo Administrative Post, Dili Municipality, continues to work hard under the scorching sun, running a small business selling sweets on the roadside to meet her daily needs.
Entrepreneur Domingas Mesquita shared that she started her small business selling sweets on the street because she wanted to earn a little money to improve her livelihood and escape poverty. She believes that she must rely on herself and not depend on others, which is why she puts effort into running her own small business.
“I decided to create this little business because I wanted to earn a bit of money to support our daily life. Even though I’m old, I continue to try with this small activity to get income. Just sitting at home is difficult when there’s no money,” said Domingas Mesquita.
She explained that the money she used to start the business came from her personal savings, and some of was pension money. That’s why she chose to start something small like selling sweets on the roadside so she could earn a little to meet her needs.
“Although the sweets I sell are low in profit, I usually make about $2 to $4 a day. We sell them by the road and trust that people like construction workers passing by will buy them. Sometimes, not everything sells because many people are doing the same business, but I’m still grateful to earn something every day for my needs,” she said.
She added that the sweets she sells, such as banana fritters and donuts, are easy for people to buy and eat, especially workers who start early and need breakfast on the go.
“I used to have the strength to help my husband work daily as a filtering sand to earn money. But now that I’m truly getting older, just sitting at home makes me feel sick, so I try to help my daughter make the sweets so I can go out and sell them on the roadside,” she continued.
In conclusion, although Domingas is already of old age, it doesn’t stop her from running a small street business. Through her hard work, she manages to support her family’s needs and help send her grandchildren to school.
Reporter : Nelfiano
Photo : Nelfiano