My name is Serkalem Demise, and I am 26 years old. I had the opportunity to receive both practical and theoretical garment-making training from Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). garments based on my customers’ orders. After completing the training, I borrowed some money from my parents and started my own business.
In the beginning, I was saving 300 birr per day and paying 3,000 birr for my shop rent. Before this, I struggled to find a job and Now, I work and live a dignified life. On productive days with many customers, I can earn up to 1,000 birr. I make cultural dresses (shifon), uniforms, and other support myself.
I started with just one machine, and now I have also bought an overlock machine. I aspire to become a well-known designer nationwide and plan to create job opportunities for other young women. In the near future, I hope to hire additional staff for my garment shop. Currently, I have built a capital of around 200,000 birr.
I am truly grateful to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for the support they provided during my challenging time—it has transformed my life.