UPSHIFT: Helping displaced youth turn ideas into businesses
Giving young people the chance to lead, innovate, and create a better future
“I always told myself, keep trying. One day, good things will come,” says Mohamed. He lives in Somalia, where youth often bear the heaviest burden when displaced by drought and climate disasters. Yet, even in the most challenging circumstances, hope can spark change. This can be done through the UPSHIFT programme, which equips vulnerable and displaced youth with the tools to transform their lives and communities. Through innovation boot camps, participants learn to identify challenges in their communities and design sustainable solutions. Youth are given entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and seed funding, enabling them to turn ideas into action. The initiative fosters economic resilience, self-reliance, and social innovation—critical lifelines for youth living in displacement camps across Somalia. These enterprises not only generate income but also shift perceptions—showing young people as agents of change, not problems to be solved.
Among these inspiring stories is that of Mohamed Salad Ali. At just 19 years old, he has faced immense hardship, from being displaced from his home in Jowhar by conflict and drought to living in an IDP camp in Mogadishu. Daily life is a struggle; scarce food, limited clean water, and few opportunities. But Mohamed refused to give up.
One day in the camp, there was an announcement that the youth were invited to attend a meeting to learn about the UPSHIFT program. The decision to go turned out to be a turning point that changed his life. The journey began with intensive training designed to help youth turn dreams into viable business plans. Mohamed embraced every moment.
“The training was a big change for me,” he says. “I learned how to make a business plan, manage money, work with others, and talk to customers. Our mentors always told us, ‘Start small, but dream big.’ Their support gave me the confidence to move forward.” Armed with new skills and a seed grant, Mohamed teamed up with four friends from the camp to launch Kaabe Electric Shop—a small business that provides affordable electronics, such as phones, chargers, and gadgets, to camp residents.
“We buy items at low prices and sell them in the camp to people at an affordable price,” Mohamed explains with pride. “The seed fund was our big turning point. It gave us tools, confidence, and hope to build something real.”
Today, Kaabe Electric Shop is thriving. Mohamed earns an income, supports his family, and stands tall as a role model in his community. “When I see our business working well, I feel proud,” he shares. “People now see me as a young man with purpose. When they say, ‘If Mohamed can do it, maybe we can too,’ it makes me happy. It means we are not just waiting for help; we are building hope with our own hands.” Mohamed’s story is a testament to the power of opportunity and determination.
Thanks to Qatar Charity and the UNICEF Spain National Committee with Iberdrola, young people like Mohamed now believe change is possible, even inside an IDP camp. “UPSHIFT turned my dream into reality and taught me that no life is too broken to rebuild.”
When I see mothers smiling after buying food from my shop, I feel proud,” says 24-year-old Farxiyo. “This is not just a business; it is helping my community, giving hope, and it is my new beginning.”
Today, Farxiyo has a growing business. She helps her family, pays school fees for her younger brothers, and gives small support to other women in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Mogadishu, Somalia. People now respect her as a hardworking young woman and a role model. Before the UPSHIFT programme, her life read like a different story.
Farxiyo and her family were happily living in the Awdhigle district in Lower Shabelle. The conflict came suddenly one day, and everything changed. “We ran with nothing! No home, no food, no safety,” Farxiyo says. “I lost it all; my house, my friends, and the life I knew.” In their new home at the IDP camp, every day was a struggle. Still, Farxiyo kept a small light of hope in her heart, waiting for any chance.
By word of mouth, she learned that youth could apply to a new programme called UPSHIFT. This was an opportunity to learn business skills and how to start their own shop. “When I heard that news, I felt hope wake up inside me again,” she smiled.
UPSHIFT is an initiative supported by the UNICEF Spanish National Committee, Iberdrola, and Qatar Charity. It equips displaced and vulnerable youth with practical skills, mentorship, and start-up funding. The program helps young people transform their ideas into sustainable businesses, promoting self-reliance and economic opportunity within their communities.
After the training, Farxiyo received seed funding to open up ‘Bilicsan Shop’ in the IDP camp. She sells practical items people need every day: rice, sugar, cooking oil, second-hand clothes, and other essentials. Before, families had to walk long distances to get these things. Now, they come straight to her shop, happy and grateful.
“I now have courage and a future. I want to grow my shop and help more women start small work like this,” says Farxiyo. “When we stand together, we all shine brighter.”
