LocationsThe power of sisterhood: Ahsan’s business journey from dream to reality
November 27, 2024
Ahsan with her sisters, Ayah and Alaa at the Bazaar in Al-Qatn, Hadramaut.
Ahsan had always dreamed of starting her own business, but the challenges of daily life in Yemen made it seem impossible. With nearly a decade of protracted conflict affecting local economies, achieving a sustainable livelihood in Yemen is no easy task.
Ahsan applied to the Vocational and Business Skills Training and Support Project (Phase II), generously funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Yemen, with local implementing partner, the Small and Micro Enterprises Promotion Service (SMEPS).
By participating in an innovative training programme on food processing, Ahsan gained access to a diverse income source and job opportunity, achieving financial independence, and ultimately benefitting her community by stimulating the local economy.
The training was intense but rewarding. Ahsan learned everything from financial literacy to business management, skills that would prove invaluable as she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. After weeks of hard work, she was not only equipped with the knowledge she needed but also received an in-kind grant to help launch her own business. With this support, Ahsan opened a small venture selling beverages, a passion she had nurtured for years.
But Ahsan’s journey didn’t stop there. Her sisters, Ayah and Alaa, were determined to help her succeed. When Ahsan was invited to participate in the project’s local bazaar to showcase her products, she felt unsure.
“When they first told me about the bazaar, I said no. I won’t participate—it’s tiring, and I don’t know what to do,” Ahsan recalled. However, her sisters stepped in with encouragement. “They said, ‘We will help you. We will support you and go with you.’ That gave me the motivation to try. We sat down, planned everything together, made lists of what we needed, and even went to the market together to buy fruits, yogurt, and other supplies. Each of them gave their opinion, and I felt really motivated. I wanted to prove my abilities, to show everyone what I could do and to make people aware of my project.”
Ahsan preparing beverages at the bazaar in Al-Qatn, Hadramaut.
Ahsan was still anxious, but Ayah offered her support: “From here on out, you will prove yourself. Many people will know you, and you will find more and more customers.”
With the encouragement of her sisters, Ahsan embraced the challenge of the bazaar. Ayah and Alaa were by her side the entire time, helping her set up the booth, and carefully arranging her beverages. Throughout the day, they interacted with customers, sharing Ahsan’s story and the dedication she put into every product.
Ayah’s belief in her sister’s potential was unwavering. “You are destined to be a self-reliant woman, famous for your own work. Nothing is impossible in life. You can save money and become a businesswoman because no one is like you. I am sure of this, just as sure as my name, and I wish you success throughout your life.”
Alaa echoed these sentiments: “Continue with your project, and you will find success in the future. Don’t worry about what people say. Be strong, no matter the obstacles. If you fall, your sisters will be there to help you get back up, stronger than before. One day, you’ll have a chain of restaurants.”
Customers at the bazaar in Al-Qatn, Hadramaut.
Ahsan’s story has since become a beacon of hope and inspiration for other women in their community, showing them that with the right tools and a strong support system, they too can achieve their dreams.
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The Vocational and Business Skills Training and Support Project (Phase II) aims to empower 1,533 young women and men in rural areas with vocational, technical, and business skills, and nurture a culture of entrepreneurship to enhance their employability and productive engagement in economic and local recovery activities. This project is funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief). The project provides grants and technical training on a wide variety of in-demand professions across nine governorates and 24 districts: Abyan (Ahwar and Khanfir), Lahj (Al-Maqatera, Al-Qabaita, Radfan, Ras Al-Arah, Tuban), Aden (Daar Saad), Marib (Marib), Shabwah (Ar rawdah, Merkhah as sufla and Rudum), Hadramaut (Al-Mukalla, Al-Qatn, Ash shihr, Tareem), Al Maharah (Al-Ghaydah and Huswain), Ad dhale’e (Ad dhale'e and Al-Azariq), and Taiz (Al-Shamayatain Salah, Mawza and Al-Waziya). The project builds participants’ capacities in the areas of food processing, textiles and handloom, and vocational skills such as car mechanics, carpentry, cell phone repairs, home appliance maintenance, veterinary services, and solar energy systems installation and maintenance.
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