Selma Paulus (38) has turned a N$200 investment into a growing street business at Windhoek Central Hospital.
She sells sweets, cool drinks as well as fruits and vegetables to patients, visitors and staff. Just over a year ago, she had no source of income.
To survive, Paulus started selling sweets and dry chips from a small box outside the hospital.
With determination and persistence, she expanded her stock and now offers a variety of items, including fruits and vegetables.
“I started with N$200. It was not easy, but I had to do something. Now I can make more a month, which I use to support my children in Windhoek and my family back home,” she said.
Paulus lives in the Greenwell Matongo informal settlement with her family.
Her children attend school, and she works hard to keep them there.
Every day, from Monday to Sunday, she shows up at her usual selling spot, come rain or shine.
“Sometimes, we are chased away. We don’t know where to go. It’s difficult. When it rains, we don’t sell anything. There is also a lot of competition, but I keep pushing,” she said.
“During tough times, sometimes we just keep it going because I have a family to feed,” she stated.
Photo: Heather Erdmann