We’ve finished working with a handful of Yemeni refugee entrepreneurs—Ikran, Abdalla, Badriya, Fartun and Muna—but we’re still in Hargeisa for one last day. And today, we met Jamal.
Jamal is a Syrian refugee living and working in Hargeisa, close to their international airport. He has a small shop, with food and other supplies, much of which is comforting and familiar to other Syrians living in the city. The shop is equally appealing to Somali clientele, for its large variety of items.
Jamal arrived in Hargeisa about five years ago and has been trying to make things work in the city that’s become his new home. He opened his shop just a few months ago, and it’s been doing well, but he’s also been feeling the steep cost of rent for a shop on a main thoroughfare. It’s especially pricy to restock the items he sells that aren’t produced domestically.
So, we helped Jamal make sure he could keep his shop open for a few more months by helping him pay the rent and restock a few basic items.
Jamal was so touched by our visit. He told us that this was the first time in five years that anyone has shown interest in him and his shop. Our local Alight staff is going to keep the good vibes going. They’ve promised Jamal they’ll be stopping by often, making sure he feels welcome in the neighborhood!
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Meet Sam!
Sam developed an interest in forced displacement, food insecurity, and identity while working on her master’s degree. She’s now using this knowledge to support Changemakers 365 across our country programs. When she’s not off on a work trip, she’s busy fermenting beverages, training for half marathons, or listening to podcasts at her home in Minneapolis.
