Unemployment is a serious social crisis that haunts Somali youth, keeping some of them at home and driving others to irregular migration or worse.
Warda Elias Ahmed, a 25 year old university graduate, spent two years looking for jobs in Mogadishu based on her hard-earned bachelor's degree in agriculture.
But when she continued to receive rejections, she turned to entrepreneurship and established a growing laundry services company that currently employs 13 other young people.
Somali young woman : Warda Elias
And she says :
"I was unemployed yesterday, and today I employ people. I have changed my life and the life of my family. I earn an income and provide for my family, and I even support my relatives in rural areas."
Despite the success of her business, she still faces discouraging comments from members of the community about her work.
"They say, 'You studied, and now you end up washing clothes! You studied, why don't you go back to school?' I face challenges, including from some of my close ones. Laundry services are considered a despicable job, at least here in Somalia."
After graduating from the University of Somalia in 2018, she realized that the upper hand in the labor market is due to nepotism, so she turned to her own business.
She declares: "The selection process is based on nepotism, no one will just give you a job, you need to find a deputy or minister to get a job," and she pointed out: "You cannot go to a place and look for a job freely."
Dedicate a culture of merit
Warda is committed to creating a meritocratic culture when hiring in an effort to eliminate nepotism and encourage the most qualified to take advantage of available job opportunities.
In the early days of her successful project, at least so far, she did not have any capital. Warda's friends lent her the money she needed to start her business, which opened in 2020 and now has 3 laundry centers.
Currently, as an employer, she wants to change the culture of nepotism that is hindering many young people who are looking for jobs in Mogadishu.
"I choose people based on their skills and how much they need the job. If I see someone who needs the job and has the skills, I hire them," she says.
She explained, "We make the hiring process difficult because I know how it was for me."
She now spends her time overseeing the three laundry centers, which requires patience.
With her owned laundry centers in the neighborhoods of Hedan, Bondhere and Hamarwein, she has a staff of 9 men and 4 women, and she aims to expand across the neighborhoods of the capital.
Safiya Ibrahim, 20, works at Warda's center in the Hedan neighborhood and works in 12-hour shifts, earning enough money to care for her five siblings and mother.
"It's my first job, I've learned a lot and benefited a lot, because I have younger siblings who are still in school, now my income provides for a living, school fees, and I can save some money," she says.
Safiya, the only breadwinner in her family, said: "Our lives have improved, she was dependent on her relatives, and this was not in their favor or hers."
She recalls her suffering during unemployment, saying: "I used to stay at home but now I am working and I am happy and thank God, I also thank my sister who gave me this job and welcomed me."
Safiya finished her high school studies in 2019 and could not afford to attend university, however, she is now saving part of her salary in the hope of enrolling in university and continuing her education.
The moral of the story
Warda Elias Ahmed's story is an inspiring story of perseverance and success. Despite the challenges she faced, she never gave up on her dream of becoming an entrepreneur. She changed her life and the lives of her family by starting a successful laundry services company. She is an inspiration to Somali youth who are struggling to find jobs.
Warda Elias Ahmed's story is a reminder that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your goals. It is a story that gives hope to the heart of everyone who is struggling to get a better life.
