By Ellen Isleem | Women's Empowerment Program Manager
Yasmeen, a 26-year-old resident of Balata camp, has spent her entire life in her close-knit community. Sharing a modest apartment with her parents and seven siblings in a building shared with extended family, Yasmeen cherishes the communal spirit that prevails during tough times, especially when Balata camp faces adversity. Despite the hurdles of poverty and limited access to resources, Yasmeen remains devoted to her community and family in Nablus. Within her family, Yasmeen's sister, affectionately nicknamed Nemo, defied medical predictions after being born with spina bifida. Given only a 24-hour life expectancy, Nemo not only survived but flourished with the support of Yasmeen and their family. Currently pursuing a degree in computer science at An-Najah University despite facing debilitating challenges, Nemo embodies resilience and inspires Yasmeen. Yasmeen's upbringing also instilled an entrepreneurial spirit in her. Her father, foreseeing challenges in conventional employment for Yasmeen, sowed the seeds of entrepreneurship and encouraged her to pursue a vision that would enable her to control her time and success, and also empower her community.
After obtaining an English degree from Al-Quds Open University, Yasmeen encountered a turbulent job market influenced by ongoing conflict. Undeterred, she undertook extensive training in graphic design, computer maintenance, programming, and financial courses over five years, preparing for her venture. However, prohibitive costs and fiscal complexities hindered her from realizing her dream of establishing a customization shop offering personalized gift baskets, dishware, clothing, and jewelry.
Guided by her mother's suggestion, Yasmeen joined the Women’s Entrepreneurship program at TYO. Familiar with TYO due to her family's interactions with the Mental Health Team and her mother's prior enrollment in the Women’s Empowerment Program, Yasmeen found the program transformative. Key lessons in cash flow management, profit margins, and leadership resonated with her, and helped her transform her business. Yasmeen not only excelled in the program but also became instrumental in helping others. Her business plan served as a template, and she assisted fellow participants with digital literacy, including creating emails, social media accounts, and Excel spreadsheets. Beyond TYO, Yasmeen motivated women in Balata camp to envision their futures and develop their own business ideas.
TYO, according to Yasmeen, played a pivotal role in equipping her with essential skills in financial management, boosting her confidence as a businesswoman and leader. Armed with this newfound knowledge, Yasmeen envisions a bright future for her enterprise. She plans to leverage the seed money from the Women’s Entrepreneurship program to acquire updated equipment and transition her business from a home operation to a storefront.
Inspired by Nemo's resilience, Yasmeen is determined to succeed not only to provide for her sister's medical care and education but also to support her siblings in pursuing higher education. Yasmeen now has the confidence to succeed. She feels that “the future of my company is bright” because she can now “think like a business woman and with a leader’s mentality”. Yasmeen will continue Yasmeen's journey and her involvement with TYO are empowering not only herself but also inspiring other young women in Balata to explore entrepreneurship. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Program not only changed the lives of its participants but also has a profound ripple effect across communities, reflecting the potential for significant community change initiated by individuals like Yasmeen.
By Nour | Palestinian Female Entrepreneur
By Suzan Abu Farha | Entrepreneurship Program Director
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