Umalkheyr Mohamed's success story is truly inspiring and heartwarming. Umalkheyr grew up with limited access to education and economic opportunities as her single mom had low earnings. Despite these challenges, Umalkheyr always had a passion for entrepreneurship and dreamed of starting her own business.
Umalkheyr's journey towards entrepreneurship was not an easy one. Due to her mother's constant moves to find survival, Umalkheyr was unable to keep up with her education and was forced to stop attending school frequently. But even in the face of adversity, Umalkheyr never gave up on her dreams.
When a UNICEF-supported partner, Women Action for Advocacy and Progress Organization (WAAPO), began offering UPSHIFT business grants and training to young people in her community, Umalkheyr saw an opportunity to turn her dream into a reality. With the help of the WAAPO, Umalkheyr participated in the social innovation bootcamp and developed a business plan for a Game Station called Bilic Wadan.
Thanks to the small Upshift grant of $2,300 provided by UNICEF, Umalkheyr was able to purchase equipment and supplies with her team and received training in business management and marketing. With hard work and determination, Bilic Wadan quickly became a popular destination for youth in the area. Today, the business is thriving, with a steady stream of customers and a profit of $6 per day.
My situation and that of my family has changed since I started this business. My business supports me enough to feed, clothe my family and make small savings for a rainy day. The business is making profit and I have the desire to expand it one day as many of my customers are happy with the services I provide.
Umalkheyr's success has had a significant impact not only on her own life and that of her family, but also on the economic development of her community. She dreams of becoming a successful businesswoman and helping others through her business ventures. Additionally, she aspires to become a psychologist who can help people with mental struggles.
Umalkheyr's story is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship and the importance of supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Her journey is a reminder that no matter how difficult the circumstances, with hard work, determination, and the right support, anything is possible.
As you read Umalkheyr's story, you can't help but feel inspired by her resilience and determination. Her journey towards entrepreneurship is a reminder that it's never too late to pursue your dreams and that with the right tools and guidance, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
UPSHIFT is an opportunity to support youth and adolescents to become a force for positive social and economic change, contributing to a competitive labour force, sustained economic growth, improved governance, and vibrant civil societies. UPSHIFT empowers young people to identify challenges in their communities and create entrepreneurial solutions to address them. Thanks to the UNICEF Spain National Committee for supporting this programme
