Age: 25
Location: Hopley, Harare
Title: Entrepreneur (Groceries, Butchery, Gas Seller)

Sophia Gomo’s journey is one of resilience and empowerment. At 25, she had endured years of gender-based violence, poverty, and the challenges of raising two children with little support. Living in Hopley, Sophia relied on shoemaking to survive, but her earnings were insufficient to meet her family’s needs.

Her life changed when she joined the Safe and Inclusive Cities Project. Through the program, Sophia learned business management skills and received financial support to diversify her work. With a $600 loan from the revolving fund, she started a grocery shop, later expanding to a solar-powered butchery and a gas business. Her income has increased by 300%, enabling her to buy land and build a permanent home.

Sophia now mentors three women in Hopley, teaching them how to run their own businesses. “I was once a woman who lived in fear,” she says. “Today, I am a businesswoman, a mentor, and a homeowner. If I can rise, so can you.”