Azza, a mother driven by purpose

Azza is a resilient Sudanese woman who seized every opportunity to start her own business- a dream she now looks back on with pride, having turned it into a reality.

She is one of millions of Sudanese who have been forced into displacement as a result of the war. She had no choice but to seek refuge in Egypt, leaving everything behind and starting anew.

Determined, Azza sought out any opportunity that can give her independence, attending multiple courses in sewing, marketing and accounting.

Upon completion of her courses, Azza was awarded a grant. She purchased two sewing machines and launched a small business in Alexandria, offering sewing and ironing services. “This grant gave me a new chance and I wanted to seize every opportunity to make the most out of it,” Azza recalled.

Azza identified a niche that helped grow her business. Many of her clients requested a delivery service- an opportunity she quickly pursued, turning it into an additional source of income. “When I first started, I noticed that clients oftentimes needed their items to be delivered. It was extra work, but I would deliver them myself and immediately realized that this has to be part of what my business offers”. As trust grew, demand increased, and clients began requesting more orders with each delivery.

As her business grew, she was able to upgrade her sewing machines to meet the needs of her clients. She also began renting part of her workplace to small businesses who needed space to operate. Together they have been able to share the cost of rent and other running expenses.

“I try to market myself through WhatsApp so I can grow my client base” says Azza. As a mother who has survived war and an entrepreneur who has built a business in a new country, she is proud of what she has achieved and remains determined to offer her children a stable life while away from home.

Together with her husband’s income, their life is relatively stable however this stability remains out of reach for many refugees living in Egypt.

With support from RDPP-NA, women like Azza are given the chance to rebuild their lives. Through small business grants, they can establish their own sustainable livelihoods, regain independence, and work towards a more dignified future for themselves and their families.