Unemployed graduate builds her own business with ILO's support

Jigjiga, ETHIOPIA (ILO News) – Amal had just graduated with a degree in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), armed with dreams and determination. But after two years of endless job applications and closed doors, hope started to fade. This was Amal's reality in 2021.

“I applied everywhere, but nothing worked out,” she recalls. “It frustrated me, but I refused to give up.”

Instead of waiting for an opportunity, Amal did something remarkable – she stopped waiting for someone else to give her a job and decided to create her own business.

Amal began producing natural herbal beauty products for herself using traditional ingredients and recipes. Friends and family couldn’t help but notice the amazing results and encouraged her to sell them.

She took her business online, promoting her products on Instagram and TikTok. But there was a challenge many digital entrepreneurs face: trust.

“People didn’t trust online businesses. They thought it was a scam,” Amal explains. “I dreamed of having a shop where customers could see my products and I could convince them that I am genuine business-woman.”

© ILO/Zelalem Alemenew Desta

© ILO/Zelalem Alemenew Desta

The turning point

Her dream became reality. Amal discovered the Youth-to-Youth Fund (Y2YF), a joint initiative by Curis Youth Development Organization, a youth-led organization in Jigjiga, Edukans Ethiopia and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The initiative empowers young entrepreneurs from refugee and host communities to build sustainable businesses.

Amal's application stood out immediately. Her unique business concept and clear potential caught the attention of the selection committee. She received a grant of 115,000 Ethiopian Birr (approximately US $ 800) and mentorship from the Curis Youth Development Organization.

The transformation begins

With this support, Amal rented a small dream shop, purchased professional production equipment, and improved her packaging. The results were immediate, as Amal's sales increased 10 folds and so did the profits.

“Before the support, I sold only a few products each month because I had no shop and my packaging was poor. Now, I have a permanent location, better branding, and customers trust me,” says Amal.

Today, going beyond her beauty products business, Amal offers beauty salon services like henna and hairdressing. Her heart still remains on expanding her natural hair care line “Nishaad”. This brand name isn't random. It's a beautiful blend of letters from her parents' names, a heartfelt tribute to the family support that helped fuel her dreams.

Amal is planning to move her shop to a more central location in downtown Jigjiga to reach even more customers. Her ultimate dream is to expand her business beyond the Somali Region and reach across Ethiopia.

ILO’s vision to support

Stephen Opio, Chief Technical Advisor, ILO PROSPECTS Ethiopia and Sudan, said, "At the ILO, our vision is to ensure that every young person, including those in forced displacement contexts, has the opportunity to turn their ideas into sustainable livelihoods. Engaging with these young entrepreneurs is critical because it transforms them from beneficiaries into active contributors, fostering self-reliance and restoring their dignity, a powerful step towards long-term resilience for themselves and the communities that host them.”

Amal is no longer just a business woman but she employs her sister and two other community members in the production and sales of her products.

Marta Tsehay Sewasew, National Programme Officer, ILO PROSPECTS Ethiopia, shared about the Y2YF, empowering entrepreneurs like Amal, “This programme is about more than just providing a grant for youth-led organizations; the ultimate goal is creating jobs by nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of young people. Amal is a living proof of this.”

Marta added, “Amal’s journey demonstrates how youth-led organizations and strategic partnerships can create tangible opportunities for decent employment and empower young people to achieve their dreams.”

In a world where youth unemployment remains a critical challenge, Amal's journey offers hope and a roadmap. Her story proves that with the right support, determination, and a willingness to take risks, young people can create their own opportunities and lift entire communities in the process.

About the Youth-to-Youth fund (Y2YF)

Y2YF is a competitive grant scheme by the ILO and Edukans Foundation in Ethiopia, supporting youth-led organizations to promote decent employment through entrepreneurship projects for forced displacement and host community youth.

Funded by the Government of the Netherlands through the ILO's Partnership for Improving Prospects for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities (PROSPECTS) programme, the Y2YF provides funding, capacity building, and technical assistance to help young people start businesses, develop skills, and participate in their communities.