From Domestic Worker to Business Owner

Yehualashet Dadi, a 39-year-old divorced woman with a 17-year-old child, found herself at a crossroads in life. Despite her desire to continue her education after stopping at 12th grade, she faced significant financial and personal obstacles. Although her former husband forbade her from travelling to the Gulf for work, and without the grades or money for college, Yehualashet's options seemed limited. However, her resilience and determination would eventually guide her to new opportunities. Over the span of 13 years, Yehualashet worked in various Gulf countries, including Lebanon, Dubai, as well as Saudi Arabia.

Initially, she joined the Ethiopian Defence Force in an attempt to earn money, but severe illness forced her to leave after meeting her first husband. Determined to fund her education, she decided to migrate to Beirut, Lebanon, to work as a domestic employee. Her plan was to save money for her education, but upon returning to Ethiopia, she discovered that her husband had squandered her savings and remarried.

“This unprecedented situation hurt me deeply, and since I didn’t have a home or money anymore, the only option I had was re-migrating to Beirut,” Yehualashet shared, recalling the painful period in her life.

Despite the setbacks, Yehualashet's persistence led her back to Beirut, where she worked for another two years. The workload and constant illness forced her to return to Ethiopia, where she opened a small restaurant. Lacking proper management knowledge, the restaurant failed, leading her to Dubai for two years and then to Saudi Arabia for seven years. Her experience in Saudi Arabia was particularly harsh, working long hours under intense conditions. Eventually, she escaped and worked as a runaway domestic worker for six years.

“During the daytime, there were many family friends coming by the house, and twice per week, they used to slaughter a sheep, and I was the only one preparing everything,” Yehualashet recalled. “The workload was unbearable, and I was constantly stressed.”

After returning to Ethiopia, Yehualashet heard about the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training program organised by the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme and WISE. Encouraged by a family member, she enrolled in the 15-day training, which proved to be a turning point.

“I found the 15 days of training at WISE extremely useful. I always wanted to acquire this kind of training even if I had to pay for it. However, I received this training and was even paid for it. It was something I always planned for,” Yehualashet said.

The training equipped her with essential business skills, including planning, market research, and financial management. It taught her the importance of perseverance, starting small, and not expecting immediate profits.

With renewed confidence, Yehualashet started a small business selling breakfast, coffee, and lunch, targeting daily labourers. She is now planning to expand to a more lucrative area, using the skills and knowledge gained from the SIYB training.

“After the training, I found the strength and confidence to start a business again. Now with the training I acquired, I made a market plan, researched where to open it, what my loss and profit would be, and a plan for the next five years. I believe with this, I’ll succeed,” Yehualashet asserted.

Yehualashet’s journey highlights the importance of proper training and support for aspiring entrepreneurs. She now saves diligently and understands the importance of taking loans wisely to stay motivated and ensure business success.

“The training let me know that I can work in my own country and improve myself. It persuaded me to save what I have and even lend money based on my savings without collateral. As long as you have the mindset and work hard, you can change,” she shared.

Her determination to succeed, despite numerous challenges, serves as an inspiration to many in her community and beyond.