Our Galaxy Event for STEP graduates each year is a dazzling display of talent and creativity. Dresses, wedding gowns, hairstyles, and stunning cosmetic creations are there for all to admire.
Among the designers were those who had first showcased their work the year before. Now, they had come full circle—serving as trainers in the incubator phase of the project. Their expertise and creative vision were evident in the designs that made their way down the catwalk—designs crafted "from the ghetto," now gracing the runway with elegance and pride.
It was clear that these gifted women—who seemed almost heaven-sent—were now facilitating new participants to create something remarkable. This talent shone through again during the event’s photoshoot, sending a clear message: women from the toughest neighborhoods in the country could create beauty, produce market-worthy products, and build professional businesses. A woman from Çair could become a real designer.
Their stories are proof that professional success does not have to be pretentious or elitist. Quality business is achievable through hope and humility. Women long out of the workforce—sometimes even for two generations—can thrive in competitive markets.
One designer shared her journey with simple honesty:
"I started alone. I was afraid. I did not believe in myself… I didn’t think I could get myself up into the process. But I am happy—this was my dream. What did I have to lose? I opened my own business…"
For her, all she had needed was encouragement.
Another designer echoed this sentiment:
"Here at Operation Mercy, I found friends and colleagues who I could work with. We could build something together, and that is what happened."
These words from them were powerful:
"The thing is, you don’t have to be dependent on anybody. You can stand on your own feet and be an example for your family, for your children, for everyone. You feel more respected—with the opening of my business, that is what I have experienced. I want to encourage the women out there to start their own businesses. Maybe with a different skill or different possibilities. Out of nothing, you can make everything. You only need the encouragement."
This is the message that shone through that night: possibilities are not bound by circumstance; they are built by courage and belief.
