Stitching a Brighter Future: The Journey of Three Entrepreneurs

Photo: Badri Mustafa, Abdikadir Mohamed and Hinda Abdi (left to right) run their small tailoring business in Jigjiga

In one of Jigjiga’s bustling markets, Badri Mustafa, Abdikadir Mohamed and Hinda Abdi have embarked on a transformative journey with their small tailoring business. Just six months ago they were strangers, sharing a common struggle against unemployment and a lack of professional skills.

Photo: Hinda Abdi stands in their tailoring shop in Jigjiga, where skills gained through a GIZ‑supported vocational training have enabled her to build a stable livelihood and contribute to her family’s income.

Meeting for the first time through a GIZ-supported short-term training in tailoring, they gained valuable new skills. To transition into employment, the trainees were organized into small business groups, uniting the three as partners. With GIZ’s support of seed money, they were able to buy two sewing machines and secure a small workspace in a strategic location with good demand.

Now, four months into their venture, their business is dynamic. Some days are more profitable than others, but the impact on their lives has already been profound. Badir Mustafa describes the change as “incomparable”. What started as a training and employment opportunity has become a sustainable source of income, allowing them to provide for their families and meet their basic needs.

Photo: Badri Mustafa and Abdikadir Mohamed at work on sewing machines in their Jigjiga tailoring shop

The business group has big plans for the future, hoping to one day expand their business and create jobs for others in their community. In a short amount of time, their story has already become more than about a tailoring business. It’s a story of transforming lives, stitching together a brighter future for themselves and their families, one seam at a time.

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Source: This story is authored by GIZ Ethiopia.