Amanga Pinyi Udom, a determined 35-year-old restaurant owner hailing from Kuajiena Payam in Jur River County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, is making an earnest appeal to well-wishers for support in propelling her business to new heights.
Pinyi embarked on her entrepreneurial journey after becoming part of a village savings and loans association supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) two years ago.
This endeavor, supported by the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) with funding from the European Union Trust Fund (EUTF), empowers individuals to bolster their resilience by honing their business acumen.
Through the program, Pinyi set up her restaurant which has flourished with the addition of a few tables. Yet, these enhancements fall short of satisfying the growing demands of her business. Her aspirations now encompass expanding the establishment and launching a food delivery service.
In an exclusive conversation with Radio Tamazuj, Pinyi, revealed that while her business is operational, it grapples with challenges such as inadequate seats, tables, and an insufficient setup for entertainment.
Describing her journey and sources of support in a landscape where female business entrepreneurs are scarce, Pinyi said her current restaurant falls short of providing the desired comfort for her patrons.
“I oversee a restaurant business here which I kick-started when the ACTED farming initiative took off two years ago. Initially, I sold groundnuts to sustain myself and I also cultivated sorghum in my garden,” she said. “I secured loans from our savings group to procure supplies for the restaurant, traveling to Wau for this purpose. Furthermore, I would vend the sorghum I harvested in the market, generating additional capital to fuel my business.”
Businesses remain an integral part of the lives of countless women and their families across Africa.
“The business supports me given the ongoing economic challenges. Given the elevated cost of commodities in the market, and operating in Kuajiena where I procure supplies from Wau, I encounter numerous hurdles. Undoubtedly, the challenges are substantial, but I am resolute in surmounting them,” she explained. “I also have two children pursuing a university education, for whose tuition I bear responsibility. Moreover, I am providing for two younger children attending primary school in Wau. Apart from these commitments, I must provide sustenance for my family and my other young children receiving primary education here in Kuajiena.”
“A major obstacle is the absence of a suitable space and well-constructed structure to effectively manage my restaurant business,” Pinyi added.
She said she lacks a proper establishment given the financial demands of her children’s education because the income she generates falls short of upgrading her restaurant from the current makeshift shelter it is.
“I am seeking assistance that would empower me to augment the restaurant’s capacity. My Kuajiena restaurant caters to a multitude of travelers, including those journeying between Tonj and Wau, as well as those en route from Wau to Juba via Tonj,” she said. “Travelers often pre-order meals before arriving in Kuajiena, enabling them to swiftly collect their food upon arrival. Additionally, my restaurant serves United Nations travelers and individuals engaged in local project activities.”
A role model in her own right, Pinyi, a mother of seven, shared what she needs to keep her enterprise afloat and thriving.
“My plea is simple: I require support. My restaurant lacks proper seating and tables. Furthermore, I am in dire need of a more spacious and well-constructed area,” she explains. “I am hopeful that individuals willing to extend assistance can provide chairs and tables, and potentially offer financial support to initiate the construction of a purpose-built restaurant structure.”
“If feasible, they could pay me a visit to assess the situation and pinpoint the most effective strategies to elevate my business by expanding its capacity,” Pinyi adds.
Empowered by funding from the European Union Trust Fund, WFP empowers village savings and loan associations-informal, self-managed groups that pool resources to offer loans to members for the enrichment and expansion of their economic ventures.
WFP also imparts financial training to these groups, equipping them with adept money management skills.