Young mother Amina*, a graduate of the Skills/Startup Training Empowerment and Practice (STEP) vocational training programme, is opening her dress shop today. The 31-year-old completed the course in 2022, but got back into contact with her mentor-trainer for advice in 2025 as she has big ideas for her own life. However, fear paralyses people here, while jealousy and gossip are big obstacles: “You are too old to do this... There is no chance... Why do you work when your husband is working?... What are you doing?” Even Amina´s husband was against her going out to work.
But now, after three years of germinating the idea, Amina was looking for advice and support. “When you said to me, 'It is not a problem, we will meet', I was surprised that you were so available. [But] I´m scared,” she admitted. Our project manager told her not to be scared as she already had the skills needed – she was already making beautiful dresses.
Our project manager suggested that Amina make a dress for a young bride, so that people would see it at the wedding and notice her work. She would be advertising what she could do, potential customers would look around, but they would come back when they saw the quality of her work. “Maybe I will need a logo?” Amina asks. Our project manager agreed to help her.
She gave Amina more information about advertising and business, which Amina double checked for herself. When her brother-in-law, who is an accountant, saw what she had learned at the STEP business skills training, he told her, “Oh, you are learning from an economic school!“
Something is happening in the background. STEP students are quiet in the lectures, but something is going in their heads. Ideas have taken root and now, Amina is finally taking the step and opening her own shop. “I do not want to be at home and gossip, I want to do a professional business,” she says.
In all of this, STEP is helping participants to help the whole family. Amina has been generating income for the household. Now, her husband listens to her and respects her. Her children are proud.
For many, it takes time for the ideas to get through. Even years. “Now,” a joyful project leader exclaims, “we see the fruit!”
(*name changed)
