When life gives you lemons, they say, make lemonade. That is exactly what Zelia Abdulai, a determined young mother of two from the Karaga District in Northern Ghana, has done.
Despite being a person with a disability, Zelia, a graduate of Karaga Senior High School, has always believed that disability is not inability.
Despite the challenges she faced in completing school, she learned how to braid hair and sew—skills she used to support herself rather than resorting to begging, as many in similar situations often do.
Her life took a turn for the better when she heard about the HAPPY Program. Intrigued, she signed up, not knowing it would change her story forever.
Through the program, she received hands-on training in soybean processing, learning how to make tombrown, soy milk, soya kebab, and other products along the soybean value chain.
After just two weeks of training, Zelia made a bold decision—she set aside her sewing and braiding business, which wasn’t bringing in consistent income, and focused entirely on soy-based food production.
“After I heard about the HAPPY Program, I stopped hairdressing and sewing because they were not earning me enough money to take care of my children, my mother, and my siblings. I started making soya kebabs and soy milk, and it helped me a lot.
Then, I added soya chips because some people enjoyed the soy milk better with the chips. When I did that, my revenue increased. I’ve been doing this for the past seven months," Zelia said.
Starting with soy milk and soya kebabs, she later expanded into soya chips, a venture that has become her primary source of income.
Today, Zelia proudly provides for her family, breaking the cycle of dependency. Speaking about her journey, she expressed deep gratitude for the HAPPY Program, which she says gave her the opportunity to rewrite her story.
She has also employed two others who assist her with her growing business, further expanding her impact. Zelia's husband now supports her, and she has ambitious plans to increase her customer base and distribution network.
Overcome with emotion during her interview, Zelia reflected on her journey with tears of joy, thanking the HAPPY Program for turning her struggles into a source of strength and success.
“The HAPPY Program told us to be happy. Now, we are happy. The HAPPY Program didn’t want me to be holding bowls and begging for alms. So, HAPPY Program, I’m happy.”
