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(ERGO) – Having grown up as a refugee in the Dadaab camps in Kenya, Adan Jumale Hassan, 28, runs a small electronics, money transfer, and grocery shop that is supporting his entire family – even at a time of aid cuts and economic downturn.

Adan opened his shop last November in an area outside Dagahaley camp with few other businesses and now attracts a steady base of customers, making 800 to 1,000 Kenya shillings a day ($6-8) that is enough for the family of seven.

“Since I started this business, I have managed all my family’s needs. We now afford food, healthcare, education, and even savings. I feel proud to have gained financial independence,” Adan told Radio Ergo.

They used to live off food aid distributed in the camp and Adan’s 15,000 Kenyan shillings monthly salary working in another man’s shop. He saved 6-7,000 shillings every month from his wages for four years – accumulating nearly 200,000 shillings to start up on his own last year.