For many students, holidays are not a time for complete rest. Instead, they choose to learn real-life lessons in the field. In N’Djamena, Léa, a tenth-grade student from the Kilwiti neighborhood, has taken up cassava selling. Carrying a basin on her head, she walks the capital’s streets daily in search of customers.

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

According to Léa, cassava prices range from 50 to 500 FCFA. Like her, many young girls have entered this trade. However, the activity has its challenges.

“Cassava has become expensive. Some customers think our prices for 100 or 200 FCFA portions are too high. They don’t know that we buy the goods at high prices ourselves; we cannot sell at a loss,” she says. Fortunately, she notes that some customers are understanding and encourage their efforts. The country faces a palpable poverty situation.

Chad’s poverty rate stands at 44.8%, with 36.5% of the population living on less than $2.15 a day. The country also ranks among those with the lowest human capital index, limiting youth development opportunities.

A growing awareness for the future

Beyond the immediate financial need, this initiative reflects a shift in mindset among Chadian youth. Faced with an uncertain job market and the difficulty of relying solely on school for a stable professional future, these students understand the importance of diversifying skills and gaining financial independence from an early age. Alongside their studies, they learn discipline and the realities of business.