Against All Odds: From Migration Hardship to Business Hope

Semira Maye left her newborn daughter in Asela at just 18 to work abroad in November 2023, hoping to repay a large debt and improve her life. After a difficult journey marked by confinement and uncertainty, she found work as a domestic worker in Dubai. Although initially valued by her employer, tensions later arose at the household, and a gas leak incident led to a devastating fire that killed a colleague and left Semira severely injured. She spent months in hospital undergoing treatment before returning home.

Back in Asela, Semira slowly recovered from her injuries using home remedies and regained her ability to walk. Determined to rebuild her life, she sought to start a small business but discovered most of the money she had sent home had been spent by her family. After disputes, she received only part of her earnings and believes a significant amount is still owed to her, leaving her to restart her life with limited resources.

A turning point came when a friend enrolled her in the business training programme called Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), run by the Organization of Women in Self Employment (WISE) in support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Semira had not taken it seriously when her friend first mentioned it. Her friend registered her anyway. She had originally gone simply for the stipend, hoping to buy a furry coat she had wanted for months. By the end, she had learned how to think about a business entirely differently.

With the knowledge she gained, she realized she needed a venture she could manage alone and chose to open a clothing shop instead of a labor-intensive food business.

She secured a shop at a lower rent, invested in stock, and took a small loan, which she is repaying on time while carefully managing her finances using skills from the training. Despite a temporary closure due to licensing issues, she resolved the problem and continued operating.

Now focused on growth, Semira plans to expand her business into a larger shop and improve her product quality. She is determined to build a stable future for herself and her daughter as she works toward financial independence.

By Yonas B. Zewdie