Cairo, Egypt (ILO News) – The journey of Mustafa and Muqim Ahmed El Husseiny from refugees fleeing war in Syria to successful entrepreneurs in Egypt represents a story of perseverance and resilience. Their journey highlights the profound impact of the Partnership to Improve Prospects for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities (PROSPECTS) program in shaping the lives of forcibly displaced people and their hosts. I'm doing it.
Eleven years ago, the El-Husseini brothers arrived in Egypt with strong determination and dreams for their future. In the early years, they worked in a small cafe in Damietta, which, although backbreaking work, helped them earn a living. In order to learn new skills and earn a better living, they decided to find jobs in the city's interior design manufacturing sector. From helping the various artisans in the business, they eventually learned the techniques of creating silicone molds and developing unique decorative products.
While their wages began to improve, Mustafa and Mukeem recognized that their earning potential as employees would always be limited. So in 2019, they pooled their savings and took the courageous step of using everything they had learned on the job to start an interior design manufacturing business in Alexandria.
©ILO
“We invested heavily in renting space and purchasing machinery. However, business performance did not improve for months and we needed to control costs. With little knowledge of business management, we had to support a family of eight together. We sometimes wondered if quitting our jobs was a mistake,” says Mustafa. I did.
A pivotal moment was when a friend told them about the ILO's training program on business development (Gender and Entrepreneurship Together program, GET Ahead). The training, in collaboration with partner organization Caritas Alexandria, is part of the ILO's PROSPECTS Egypt program, which supports host country and refugee entrepreneurs to develop businesses with the aim of improving local economies and creating decent jobs. It was done as part of the
Shurooq Ahmed, Project Coordinator at Caritas Alexandria, explained: Access to finance is often as big a challenge as networking. We were amazed and inspired by Mustafa and Mukim's efforts. They were serious about doing everything they could to make their business a success. ”
©ILO
The El-Husseiny brothers enrolled in a five-day GET Ahead training program and quickly realized they needed to revise their costing, inventory, and financial management strategies. The program includes modules on business management as well as soft skills development such as negotiation skills, communication and decision making. They were also provided with seed funding of 9,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $300 USD). In discussions with trainers and Caritas officials, the brothers were able to adapt and apply new business strategies.
“When we applied what we learned in the training to our business model, we doubled our profits.” “We learned how to manage our finances more accurately and record our expenses and revenues properly. Thanks to the technical expertise and cash financial support we gained through the PROSPECTS program, we are able to expand our business. We have hired more employees and now have Sudanese, Syrian and Egyptian employees.”
Another employee, Yamen, a young Syrian-Palestinian, said, “Thanks to the job opportunities Mustafa and Mukir provided, I now save and send money to support my family in Syria.'' ”, sharing the broader impact of their work.
A milestone for the El-Husseiny brothers was their participation in the Tlasna Fair, organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA). This event provided a venue for them to showcase their meticulously crafted products. Prestigious exhibitions held annually in Egypt promote national heritage.
©ILO
“We were honored to participate in the Tlasna Fair, where we had the opportunity to present our work to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. We also had the opportunity to meet more customers and retailers. This was possible because the ILO nominated us for this event and we are grateful for this opportunity. We are deeply grateful for the support the ILO has given us.” Mustafa and Mukim.
The brothers now want to expand their business by establishing their own gallery where they can display and sell their products. The enterprise development component of the ILO PROSPECTS program has helped numerous companies succeed through business development services such as business start-up and management methods, business management skills, legal advice, marketing and e-commerce.
Amir Obeid, ILO Egypt Outlook Program Manager, said: Mustafa and Mukeem set an excellent example of how refugees can contribute to local economies, create jobs for other refugees and members of host communities, and strengthen relationships between communities. With the generous support of the Dutch Government, the ILO PROSPECTS Partnership continues to invest in supporting these entrepreneurs, providing them with the skills, technical expertise and funding they need to develop and sustain successful businesses. We will provide access. ”
©ILO
About prospects
PROSPECS is a global partnership led by the Dutch government that aims to improve access to education, social protection and decent work for host communities and forcibly displaced people.
In this partnership, the ILO plays a key role in promoting decent work, equipping refugees and host communities with better and more appropriate skills to enter local labor markets and access enterprise development opportunities. We focus on strengthening local economic development and improving employability by providing:
