We met Ayaan, hawking her tie-dyed clothes to fellow IDPs at her displacement camp in Belet-Xaawo. Each day, Ayaan weaves her way through the camp, her colorful fabrics catching the eye of fellow women IDPs. She walks with a sense of purpose, her arms and shoulders full of colorful tie-dyed fabrics. Ayaan braves the scorching sun every day to reach her customers, her determination shining through each step.
“Hawking is better than sitting in a shop all day, waiting for customers who may never come,” says Ayaan, a 28-year-old mother of five and a graduate of the tie and dye skills training in Belet-Xaawo.
Her unique, hand-dyed garments quickly became a favorite among the community, bringing in a steady income for her family and creating her own path to self-reliance. She goes from person to person, her reputation and business growing with each interaction. As she greets familiar faces and displays her vibrant creations, Ayaan cultivates deep connections within her community. Through her daily interactions and dedicated work, she’s built trust and familiarity, making her not just a businesswoman but a valued presence among those around her.
Unlike a stationary shop, hawking allows Ayaan to engage with different people daily and respond to the demands of her customers directly. “Sometimes I receive orders that can take up to a week to complete,” she shares, reflecting on her growing popularity and customer base. “I enjoy finishing up my orders when I’m not hawking. It keeps me busy and engaged.” Says Ayaan, who has now found stability through her hawking business. “Through this business, I’m now able to support my family.”
From February 2024 to July 2024, Northern Frontier Youth League (NoFYL) provided tie and dye skills training to Ayaan and other 59 women and girls in Bardheere & Belet-Xaawo districts. The six-month training, supported by UNICEF, aimed to give the participants a life-changing and income-generating skills. Upon completing the training, participants received startup kits to help them to launch their own businesses and achieving self-sufficiency.
Ayaan attributes her success to these startup kits, emphasizing that it was an excellent initiative to equip participants with the tools needed to kickstart their ventures. She believes that these kits enabled her and many other women to establish their businesses, noting that without them, they wouldn’t have been able to do so.
“The startup kits gave me and many other women the foundation to start our businesses. Without them, none of this wouldn’t have been possible. It provided us with the push and encouragement we needed to achieve our dreams and I’m truly grateful to NoFYL for that,” shares Ayaan. However, she suggests that providing a small capital boost alongside the startup kits would further assist them in their entrepreneurial efforts.
Despite her success, Ayan faces challenges. The lack of a sewing machine means she must outsource tailoring, which adds extra expenses. “I would love to learn tailoring,” she says. “It would reduce my costs and increase my profit. I could do everything from home, which would save time and money.” Yet, even with this added cost, her hawking business has enabled her to earn a reliable income to support her children.
When asked if she ever plans to open a stationary shop, Ayaan laughs, saying that she might think about it someday. For now, however, she’s built a loyal customer base through hawking, and she’s not quite ready to give that up.
Ayaan’s Photos:
