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Empowering youth through Entrepreneurship Skills by creating focus and actions in urban locations, including work with internally displaced people within urban centers, to form entrepreneurial opportunities that ignite innovation, create jobs, and grow economies.
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FEATURED STORY:
Waab Coffee Shop
Supporting Sustainable Strategies thatSpur SMEs growth in Somalia and Somaliland
Qamar, born and raised in Yaqshid district of Mogadishu is head of customer service at Waab Coffee shop. Some months ago, Qamar having graduated from the Somali International University witha bachelor’s degree in business administration had no job. She tried tosecure a job with institutions in city, but she was not lucky to secure ajob placement.
Her friend’s family had a coffee shop, Qamar decided to voluntarily support her friend who was also a former classmate at their coffeeshop. Her friend, Muhyiddin was managing the shop and liked Qamar’s dedication towards serving customers.
Qasam is now a successful entrepreneur, having gained the skills needed to create and maintain Waab Coffee in Mogadishu.
Muhyiddin believes that a lot has changed after Qamar trained with Shaqodoon on business support and coaching courtesy of the LEAD program supported by the Netherland’s foreign ministry and Spark Organization.
The LEADS program aims to improve and enhance economic prospects and opportunities for youth through supporting SMEs to grow, entrepreneurship, and employability measures.
Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in fuelling economic growth and job creation in Somalia and Somaliland, but the enterprises require owners and managers/departmental heads with the skills and competencies to meet both current and future challenges. Successful entrepreneurial development initiatives aimed atSMEs, specifically those from previously disadvantaged communities, can contribute to the alleviation of poverty through job creation in these communities.
Shaqodoon targeted hundred Small Medium Size businesses in Somaliland, Puntland, and Mogadishu providing internship, apprenticeship, entrepreneurial coaching, acceleration, and incubation.
Shaqodoon provided Qamar and other young SMEs, training and information on areas of critical importance to business growth. “I have participated in the training by Shaqodoon, I learnt valuable skills on financial management, customer care and digital marketing. We’re now reaching out to more customers through our social media platforms and delivering orders” she continues, “we have now partnered with delivery company to supply our products to customers right at their doorsteps easing difficulties we had with lockdowns, due to security and the COVID- 19 situation”.
Qamar is the one fully managing the business social media accounts. She read to her friends one of her customers feedbacks from Waab’s Facebook which says,” A major, major thank you to Waab Coffee shop, and all the many delivery people despite the economic backdrop are still smiling and offering such great customer service, I haven’t stepped inside a single coffee shop for a while now. Thank you for keeping us safe”.
Despite Qamar’s improved skills and service, she is also contributing to the business customer base attracting more customers with her courteous approach and service helping sustainably grow the business at the same time creating more jobs to the delivery company as demands at her shop increases by the day.
Shaqodoon, in collaboration with Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism and Spark also created Xogsiiye Platform that provides youth access to on- demand, up-to-date, accurate business information. Youth call to inquire about how to register their businesses, apply for business development services, get a direct connection to the Ministry of Trade, Industrial and tourism and as well as learn about what types of financing and funds available at a variety of different banks and private sectors. Thus far 2,114 business and youth have received information on business registration, access to finance and tourism information. The platform has also received 74 applicant seeking business development services.
“A major, major thank you to Waab Coffee shop, and all the many delivery people despite the economic backdrop are still smiling and offering such great customer service, I haven’t stepped inside a single coffee shop for a while now. Thank you for keeping us safe.”
— Waab Coffee Customer Feedback
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