Sofia Yimer Mohammed is 27 years old, is a remarkable woman who turned hardship into hope. Her story is one of resilience, courage and transformation.
In 2018, as a young and unmarried woman, Sofia left her home town and migrated to seek better opportunities abroad and support her family. Her journey filled with challenges that tested her strength and spirit.
In her first stay, she found work as a maid. “The people I worked for were kind,” Sofia recalls, “but the job was very demanding. I used to work more than 15 hours a day. I was constantly exhausted and barely had time to sleep. The reality was far from what I had imagined.”
After just four months, she returned to her home town. But with no job opportunities at home, she again sought work abroad, with the help of brokers. In her second attempt she found decent job, however “The owner repeatedly tried to sexually abuse me,” she relates. After enduring eight traumatic months, she fled again, this time to another country.
Sofia stayed in the third city for two years. The work was intense and relentless and her health began to deteriorate. “I fell sick from the workload. My employers refused to take me to a hospital. Over time, my right hand became paralyzed and I was unable to continue working.” She returned to Ethiopia, physically and emotionally broken.
Back home, life was not easier. For five long years, she lived without a job or income until the local administration connected her and other returnee women with DEC for the project supported by UN Women.
She said: “The life-skills and entrepreneurship training I received has changed my attitude and motivated me a lot to look for an opportunity around me.”
Determined to rebuild her life, Sofia secured a small, affordable shop and began selling electronic accessories such as mobile chargers, sockets, dividers, lamps, and more.
“Now, I feel I’m on the right path. I’m married and we have a bright future. I save a small amount from my daily income.”
Today, Sofia is thriving. She pays her shop rent, saves 500 ETB daily and her business is gradually expanding. She’s part of a Self-Help Group (SHG) organized by DEC.
Looking ahead, Sofia dreams big: “I plan to become an importer and distributor of electronic devices in the future.” Sofia Yimer Mohammed is a living example of how strength, when paired with opportunity and support, can transform even the most difficult past into a hopeful future.
