Salma Jaafar Mohammed turned one small room into a dream. With support from Action Against Hunger (ACF) under the “Feminist Solutions to Climate Change-Driven Food Insecurity” project funded by the Government of Canada, in partnership with Oxfam, she expanded her work, learned marketing, and grew her pastry business beyond her village. “Because of support I received from Action Against Hunger (ACF), I now dream of expanding my business to the town market and seeing my daughter graduate from university.” Due to water scarcity and climate change challenges, the household was forced to stop agricultural activities. As a result, the husband became unemployed, and she had to seek alternative sources of income to support the family’s livelihood.
At 50 years old, Salma Jaafar Mohammed lives in a small village with her family. She has one daughter, aged 17, who is still in school. Her husband suffers from a chronic illness and cannot work, leaving Salma to carry the responsibility of supporting her family. She also shares a crowded home with her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law and her children, and her brother-in-law with his four children. In this small house, Salma’s only private space is a single room — used both for sleeping and for her work.
Salma faced the heavy responsibility of caring for her daughter, her ill husband, and her mother-in-law, all while living in a crowded household. Despite these challenges, she began making pastries and sweets from her room, selling them to neighbors in the village. “I knew I had to be strong for my daughter and my husband,” she recalls.
Her journey took a new turn when she joined a program supported by Action Against Hunger (ACF) under the “Feminist Solutions to Climate Change-Driven Food Insecurity” project funded by the Government of Canada. With 29 other women, she received financial assistance – around 2,100 CAD each – to expand her work with new tools and equipment, and she participated in a two-day training course on business skills, marketing, and accounting. “Because of your support, I started to dream bigger,” Salma says.
With this support, Salma created a logo for her products and began promoting them through social media. She introduced free delivery, which increased demand not only within her village but also beyond. As orders grew, she hired a delivery representative and a young woman to assist her part-time. She even secured a contract with local schools to supply pastries for their cafeterias. Salma’s business has grown significantly. She now employs others, has expanded her customer base beyond her village, and supplies schools with her products. “Because of your support, you made me aspire to expand my business, move to the town market, and participate in professional events,” she explains proudly.
Salma dreams of relocating her business to a central market location and hopes to see her daughter graduate from university. Her story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of support in transforming lives.
Water scarcity, climate change and poverty make rural livelihoods fragile.
Women-led businesses are critical for household survival, especially when male breadwinners cannot work. Support from Action Against Hunger (ACF) under the “Feminist Solutions to Climate Change-Driven Food Insecurity” project funded by the Government of Canada in partnership with Oxfam, directly addresses structural barriers by empowering individuals to create sustainable income sources.
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 56 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
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