Fashioning her Future: Nebiyat's story

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme funded by the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) provide a Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training program in Ethiopia. This training is provided in partnership with the Organization for Women in Self-Employment (WISE). The 15-day programme was provided to 331 (89 women and 242 men) potential migrants in Assela town, Oromia region in the areas of business management, entrepreneurship skills, financial literacy, and market analysis. 

Nebiyat Jibril, a 25-year-old woman with a bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, has always harboured a dream of becoming a renowned fashion designer. From a young age, Nebiyat was captivated by the world of fashion, consistently driven by her passion to create and innovate. Despite her educational background, the journey to achieve her dream was fraught with challenges, especially in the initial phase of her career when she struggled to find stable employment. 

"I have a lifelong desire to be a fashion designer, and I trust I will work on it," Nebiyat asserts, reflecting the solid determination that has fuelled her journey. 

After completing her degree, Nebiyat found herself in a familiar yet precarious position like most youth in the country, seeking employment. However, unable to find a decent job in her town despite her significant efforts, she contemplated going overseas to work as a domestic worker. But the Kebele (The smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia), where she registered as an unemployed youth a few months back, referred her to the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training program organised by the ILO BRMM Programme in partnership with the Organization for Women in Self Employment (WISE). 

When Nebiyat was accepted into the (SIYB) training program, her life changed drastically. Initially, her motivation was a mix of curiosity and a desire to learn more about starting a business. The orientation session of the training program, however, ignited a stronger passion within her. 

"I was much more motivated after the first session as I understood that the training was all about my ambition to be an entrepreneur. I was elated and told my trainer that it meets my training desire and helps me in accessing the market." 

The SIYB training, which spanned 15 days, exceeded her expectations as it taught her valuable skills, such as resource optimisation, market linkage, business networking, and maintaining a positive profit margin; each concept was meticulously covered in the training modules. 

"My expectation from the training was just to get some more information on how to start my business. The training was beyond my expectations. It was a turning point in my life." 

Two weeks after the conclusion of the SIYB training program, Nebiyat courageously advanced by securing a loan from her uncle to establish a pillow shop in town. Her entrepreneurial venture, now in its second month, represents the commencement of her journey as a business owner. Nebiyat implemented an inventive business approach by integrating traditional retail with online sales channels to expand her market reach effectively. 

Looking ahead, Nebiyat envisions significant growth and expansion for her business. She plans to leverage digital platforms to broaden her market reach and aims to establish branches in major cities across the nation. Additionally, she is keen on enhancing her computer skills to aid in the digitalisation of her business operations. 

"In the next three years, I plan to expand my branches to at least four or five cities and grow my digital presence. I also want to become a trainer to help other unemployed youth enter the industry and succeed." 

The entrepreneurship training Nebiyat received has immensely influenced her future decisions and actions. It equipped her with practical skills and a strategic mindset necessary for business success. She learned the importance of optimising resources, fostering customer relationships, and effective networking. 

Nebiyat Jibril's journey from unemployed graduate to entrepreneur demonstrates the life- altering impact of focused support and training. Her story emphasises the necessity of equipping young entrepreneurs with the tools and confidence they require to achieve their aspirations. 

"I wish ILO or WISE would expand the training for unemployed youth and also train us on how to digitize our business so that we can reach out to a broader market." 

Nebiyat's success is not just a personal victory but an inspiration for many young people in her community, proving that with the right support, ambition and hard work can indeed turn dreams into reality.