I am part of a modest-income family in Dakar.

The role I occupy in the house is like that of a mother, because I lost my parents. I come from a large family: my father was an accountant working for the French army, my mother a merchant based in France, and I have brothers who live in Bamako. Often I work with my sister-in-law, who sends me indigo fabrics. I sew outfits that I bring to central Africa to sell.

I went to primary school in Point E, high school in Zone B, and trade school at Grand Jean.

My first job was at BIAO, a bank, from 1977-88. The bank was having problems, so I redirected my energies into trade.

Eight years later, in 1996, I worked at the bank CBAO until 2004. After that I returned to my sewing business, and also the processing of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Right now I need to buy more materials such as a freezer to store the finished products, a stove for cooking vegetables, and a food processor to prepare local grains, because making grains into peanut paste is complex and I need a sheller and grain grinder.

I work with a women's association linked with WAWA (Association of Women from West Africa), the group SICAP on Bourguiba Avenue in Dakar. I am the treasurer. Our focus is the trade of various goods, import/export, dyeing fabrics, sewing, hairdressing, transport of people and goods, gardening, fishing, and grain processing, all economic activities for women.

The materials required for artisanal processing of fruits and vegetables are as follows:

1 scale

5 blenders

2 lemon juicers

3 plastic strainers

1 stainless steel skimmer

1 stainless steel ladle

2 wooden spoons

10 stainless steel knife

10 plastic seals

4 plastic basin

2 10 kg pots made from local aluminum

3 stainless steel 2 kg pots

1 stainless steel 20 liter pot

2 plastic funnels

3 measuring glasses

2 tablespoon measures

1 table for cutting and washing food

2 gas, coal, or wood fireplaces

1 manual or electric extractor

1 extra cap

1 manual thermometer (?)

With these materials, I can find some women to employ in processing fruit and vegetable products. After processing, we will also look for saleswomen, so all the activities create jobs for women.

I need to buy solar lamps. There are three types of them: the cheapest costs 10500 CFA, the medium 20000 CFA, and the large one is at 27000 CFA.

Then there are the ovens. I often use them with biomass bags in the winter season. The oven also works on wood chives to fix the meals. The enhanced gasifying oven as a thermal efficiency of 49% which reduces CO2 exhaust and needs much less fuel (biomass or wood) input.

The isothermic bags cost from 7000 CFA for a small bag, 9000 for the medium size, and 10000 CFA for the big one. These bags help to keep food fresh much longer.

Note of translator: 1 USD = 500 CFA (August 31, 2014)