Extraordinary Mothers: Building a business from scratch

Motherhood is not easy and for some the situation they face in their everyday lives makes it incredibly difficult. At Embrace, we are privileged to hear stories of the incredible bravery, resilience and resourcefulness of women who (with a little bit of help from the projects we support) have overcome the odds and built safer, better lives for themselves and their families.

MADIHA’S STORY

When Madiha received the shocking news that her husband had remarried (without her knowledge), Madiha decided to divorce him. The divorce left her with no income and three children to support. She had a law degree but had married at 17 and so had not been able to pursue a career. To make ends meet, Madiha turned her local community centre in the suburbs of Cairo, run by Embrace partner Episcocare, and took out a small loan:

I used the money to buy clothes and kitchen utensils. I started an online group where I sold items. This income allowed me to provide for my three children, educate them, take care of their health, and secure their well-being.

Through the centre, I attended my first vocational training program in hairstyling. I learned how to use a hairdryer and straightener professionally. After this, I also completed courses in hair straightening, makeup, and gel polish in other specialised training programmes outside the centre. This helped me establish a career in hairstyling.

I obtained a larger loan, which enabled me to open my own beauty salon in October 2023. The salon offers various services, and I continue to sell clothes online.

I am grateful for the success of my business, and I acknowledge the support of the centre and my family. I am determined to become a skilled lawyer and advocate for women’s rights, drawing from my own challenging experiences in marriage. With the centre’s assistance, I plan to expand my beauty centre and contribute to the development of my community by training and empowering young girls.