Women in Household Development

Now that the Ramadan is fast approaching, a period when the Muslim remembers Allah and is brought near Him by his remembrance. MUSLIMS ALL OVER the world welcomes Ramadan with faith and enthusiasm, but just as every other event, it comes with a few difficulties and challenges.

One of such difficulties is the soaring prices of vegetables and other basic essentials of life. It is no news that the Muslim breaks his fast, he/she breaks it with food. And during the Ramadan, following the global recession and economic meltdown, food prices are often surprisingly high in other words “plus Cher”.

The efforts of women cannot go unnoticed in the Gambia.

They are always in the forefront working hand-in glove in the arena of the survival with their husbands to feed their children.

This reporter went to the market to talk with some of these women.

The She She She has noticed that over the years, Ramadan is one of the most difficult period for working and non-working women, and as a result it affects their daily households management and routine. They have to do everything within their power to manage and save food considering the soaring food prices most of the time by sellers making double profits from consumers. This if crossed-checked can be called daylight robbery.  Some women will still be working under the baking sun farming, digging for gravel in the earth in the case of the women in the Sotokoi stone pits no doubt about that. Market women will continue trading as usual at the markets for the welfare of their Families, and in a nutshell, the development of the country in general.

A good number of the women doing petty businesses in the country, though little they are earning still continue to see to the welfare of their families. As a result of women’s overwhelming hard work that cannot go unnoticed, our reporter went on to have an interview with the women selling foodstuffs at the Albert market in Banjul.

She She She: What are your names and what kind of foodstuffs are you selling here in the market?

Aji: My names are Aji Isatou Ceesay, I am selling cabbages and onions, am married with three children and two of them are going to two different secondary schools.

She She She: What motivated you to be a market vendor?

Aji: Nothing motivated me to be a market vendor, but I know one person can’t do it all. For example if one’s husband is working and responsible for the household bills and basic necessities of life, he can’t do it alone. But if am selling at the market what ever I earn goes to support my husband in support of the family.

She She She: So apart from the development aspect what encouraging message do you want to say to your fellow women?

Aji: The only message I want to send to my fellow women is that they should not only rely on their husbands to provide for them. They also should fend for themselves, that is not all, but should be a collective responsibility.

This reporter went on to have another interview with another women of the same trade.

She She She: What are your Names and what are you selling in this market?

Banna: My names are Banna Jammeh, I sell rice and other products.

I have been selling in this market for nearly five years today. I can be able to help myself from this business as well as my children

As a woman who knows how rough life is, I can’t bear to see my husband doing all the work, but to help do my part. 

She She She: What do you have to say to your fellow women vendors?

Banna: With the Ramadan fast approaching, let us try to reduce the prices of food stuffs and measure correctly when selling. This would help us all as women, because it is only women who buy and take to the family. We should try to feel compassion for each other.