For many students, holidays are not a time for total rest. Instead, they become an opportunity to learn real-life lessons. In N’Djamena, Léa, a tenth-grade student from the Kilwiti neighbourhood, has taken up selling cassava. With a basin balanced on her head, she walks the capital’s streets every day looking for customers.

“I live with my mother in Kilwiti. I use the holidays to sell cassava so I can prepare for the next school year,” she explains.

According to Léa, the price of cassava ranges from 50 to 500 FCFA. Many other young girls have also started this small trade. But the business comes with its own set of challenges.

“Cassava has become expensive. Some customers think we overcharge for portions of 100 or 200 FCFA. They don’t realise we also buy it at high prices; we can’t sell at a loss,” she says. Fortunately, she notes that some buyers are understanding and even encourage them. The country is experiencing palpable poverty.

According to the World Bank, 44.8% of Chad’s population lives below the national poverty line. In addition to overall poverty, several extreme vulnerability indicators characterise the country: extreme poverty affects about 36.5% of the population, who live on less than $2.15 per day. Chad ranks among countries with one of the lowest human capital indices, limiting youth development opportunities.

A shift in mindset for the future

Beyond the immediate financial need, this initiative reflects a change in attitude among Chadian youth. Faced with an uncertain job market and the difficulty of guaranteeing a stable professional future through education alone, these students have understood the importance of diversifying their skills and achieving financial autonomy from a young age. Alongside their studies, they learn discipline and the realities of business.