Businesswoman Siam Saaid al Tayeb. (Courtesy).

A prominent businesswoman in Western Equatoria State is among the over 35,000 students sitting for the Certificate of Secondary Education across the country.

From the age of 13, Siam Saaid al Tayeb started business as a tea seller before opening her own tea place in Yambio town.

She later upgraded her business to a restaurant.

“When I was young my mother trained me on how to make something called Makati and Tamia, and when I reached 13 years, I started going to the big markets in Yambio to help people at tea places and restaurants,” she said.

“From there I started making Mandazi then I opened my place for tea I started cooking tea in town. Then I opened a small restaurant.”

With time, Siam saw her restaurant business growing with more customers and supplied food to workshops and events organized by local organizations.

Several years later, Siam pioneered Siambera Trading Company – which currently supplies food stuff and all sorts of goods to different organizations and government offices in Western Equatoria State.

“It became a big restaurant then when organization started calling me to cook for them when they have trainings and with time I became a big supplier that was when I decided to go back to school then with time I opened a company”.

Siam, now aged 37 and married with four children, said she was determined to advance her studies after facing challenges of communicating with partners, signing contracts and writing invoices.

She stated that she was conned and lost a contract due to her inability to read and write .

“When am doing my business, I was dealing with companies and organization so I had to find a person who speaks and Write English to fill for me the form, sometimes I have to beg people to fill for me the form,” she said.

“One day I was given a contract of seventeen thousand dollars I give the contract to my friend to go through but that friend conned me and took the contract from me.”

“Since that day I decided to join school so that I manage my things by myself. I joined in primary four after being interviewed I was promoted to primary 6 then primary eight until I reached secondary”.

Siam told Eye Radio that she is now capable of handling all her business, dealing with partners and sending emails.

“Am dealing with the company called  Siambera Trading company, I can now speak with my partners, I chat with them, I respond  to emails, I sign contracts if you need quotation or invoices I can do for you.”

“This is what I have been looking for to go back to school, no matter how much money you have ,no education and no good English there is nothing you can do in this world.”