University of Bamenda: Students tackle poverty through petty trading on campus.

The students can be spotted on campus, moving from one Amphitheater to another, at their free time; carrying with them buckets containing these different items. 

Most of the students who sell on campus and in classrooms, told The Guardian Post that they have engaged in these petit businesses to raise funds to purchase their school needs and make ends meet.

According to Fondam Calistus, a student of the Faculty of Arts, who sells biscuits, sweets and many other items, he sells on the campus because he wants to raise money for his school needs. 

"I decided to sell things on campus because there are certain basic needs I really need for myself. They do not warrant me to be calling my parents to send money for them,” he said. 

Fondam further explained that the business has been beneficial to him as it has helped him to acquire some basic needs for himself. 

"It has helped me to acquire some basic needs like food stuffs, detergents and kitchen utensils for myself and most importantly in purchasing and photocopying my notes," he said. 

He further explained that it has helped him to get things urgently and easily without necessarily asking money from his parents. Fondam noted that combining studies and petit business actually possess some challenges. 

"I usually get tired when I come back from school, which sometimes prevents me from studying. I equally have to leave the house very early in the morning if I have a class so as to catch up with time since my sales bucket is heavy to carry,” Fondam added.

Another student, who sells plantain chips on campus, who did not want to be named, said: "I just started selling on campus. I decided to do so because I want to raise money and assist myself in procuring my school needs. I don’t only sell on campus but out of campus as well”. 

The student added that she has not been selling on campus for long, but hopes to get the best out of her sales in the long run.

Meanwhile, another student selling boiled eggs on campus, who identified herself as Precious, also said she sells on campus in order to raise money for her school needs. 

"I sell because I don't want to depend totally on my parents for everything. I want to raise money and assist myself in getting some of my school needs," she said.

It should be noted that most students who sell on campus do this in order to assist their parents in getting some of their basic needs as living away from parents is not a bed of roses.