In the heart of a vibrant city of Addis Ababa, where the sun rises with the promise of new beginnings,lives Werke Ayenew, a remarkable woman whose journey embodies resilience and hope. A migrant returnee, Werke faced not only the challenges of reintegrating into her community but also the heavy burden of illness upon her return.
Supported by her family and community, she fought bravely to recover, but the shadows of unemployment hovered, casting doubt on her future.
Feeling lost and disheartened, Werke planned remigration, believing that perhaps the answer to her struggles lay beyond her homeland. Yet, fate had other plans. With determination in her heart, she registered with her sub city administration, hoping for a glow of opportunity. One fateful day, a call from the sub-city changed everything; she directed to meet with Development Expertise Center’s (DEC) initiative that empowers migrant women returnees.
It was here that the seeds of transformation sown. Although Werke possessed skills in food preparation and hairdressing, she struggled to turn her talents into a sustainable income due to a lack of business intelligence and decision-making confidence. DEC in partnership with UN Women through the Empowering Migrant Women Returnees and Women Migrant Workers project provided essential life skills and basic business management skills to returnees.
As part, Werke received training that was nothing short of life changing. “I learned to know myself,” she reflects. The program taught her how to live with vision, cultivate meaningful relationships, and manage her finances effectively. She discovered how to generate innovative business ideas, conduct market research, and develop comprehensive business plans.
With newfound knowledge and a spark of ambition, Werke took a rise of belief. Armed with a small amount of savings and loans in kind from supportive friends and family, she opened her own women’s beauty salon. In just three short months, her hard work began to pay off. The salon quickly became a hub of activity, where she warmly welcomed customers and built lasting connections.
Werke’s entrepreneurial spirit flourished as she embraced the wisdom imparted during her training: “the training helped me to realize how much the customer can be the heart of a business,” she said. Her dedication paid off, not only did she begin to see profits, but she also created job opportunities for two capable personnel, empowering them to join her on this exciting journey.
Today, Werke stands confidently at the helm of her beauty salon, a shining example of hope and inspiration in her community. She has transformed her life through perseverance and determination, proving that challenges can be stepping-stones to success.
Looking ahead, Werke dreams big. She envisions expanding her beauty salon into multiple branches across different locations, creating even more job opportunities for others in need.
