(This article was written by Alyasser H. H. Ansary, one of CFSI’s Field Assistants. He has been working with CFSI since June 2018 and is assigned in Barangays Guimba and Papandayan.)
—
Basaola, 60 years old, a resident of Barangay Guimba, Marawi City, used to own a small eatery in her hometown. Having been separated from her husband for three years, she managed her business and provided for her family on her own. As a solo parent, living with her and depending on her for financial support were her adopted son, Fahad Ali, his wife, Rosniah, and his family.
When the Marawi Siege erupted a few kilometers from her home, she and her son’s family had to leave all their property to flee and save themselves from the war. With only the clothes they were wearing that day, they fled to Barangay Abaga, Municipality of Baloi in Lanao del Norte.
The displacement was extremely difficult for Basaola and her family. Rosniah, her daughter-in-law, was separated from their family. Moreover, amid the stress from the crisis, Basaola’s left kidney’s infection returned and she had to be rushed to a hospital in Iligan City.
Through CFSI, Basaola was granted livelihood assistance for a retail clothing business. Because of this support, among others, her family was able to start anew despite having been displaced.
In six months’ time, Basaola was already able to expand her business and extend her profits and investments to her son. They were able to purchase a utility tricycle for her son’s livelihood. This enabled him and his family to be self-sufficient.
Basaola and her son’s family were allowed to return to their home in Barangay Guimba on December 2017 during the Kambalingan. Rosniah also returned to them afterwards.
At present, Basaola is living with her niece in Guimba. She is already recovering from her kidney operation and can now work by herself again.
