Asma, A Syrian refugee residing in Jordan, has recieved a grant to start her own home based business in cooking. She was able to purchase items for her kitchen in order to cook for customers, and print business cards to expand her business. (Photo Credit; Sara Rashdan/CARE)
I fled to Jordan from Homs in Syria in May 2013. My arrival to Jordan made me feel like an alien; I had no relatives or friends, neither did my husband. At the beginning I had to do anything to provide for my husband and three children. I washed carpets, cleaned floors, and did everything I could in other people’s houses to earn money. Back in Syria I worked as a nurse for seven years, and I know how to crochet and cook, so after being here for a while, one of my neighbors tasted my food and was pleasantly surprised. She asked me, “why don’t you cook for me?” and that’s how it all started. The word spread from neighbor to neighbor to relatives and friends until I became known for my food. I was living in North Marka at the time, and then moved to Hashmi in the East of Amman. There, a wide door opened in front of me and I had a very big number of orders coming my way. I made pickles, makdoos, and many other dishes until one day I was told to register with CARE and tell them that I have this skill as they help women start up their own home-based businesses.
I applied for the workshop, and thank God I excelled in it, which led me to take part of the small business development course, and finally a grant to start a proper home-based business. The course helped me develop my way of thinking in general, and helped me focus on two or three dishes that I am very good at. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, where we all felt like we were really worth investing in. I printed menus, business cards and created a Facebook page which is helping me a lot with the customer database. CARE also helps me a lot; they always buy from me when they have foreign visitors and want them to taste the Middle Eastern food; I even created a huge order for them when they were visited by Michelle Nunn, the CEO from CARE USA.
The grant enabled me to buy a few things that were missing, and that made my life a lot easier; like a food processor, a freezer, a new refrigerator, and the raw material in which I can prepare the food. Before the grant, I was lost without proper guidance; now I am my own guide, and my own mentor. I can provide for my family with an income that I never dreamed of having. I have no debts either, unlike earlier where I had to borrow money to pay rent and the bills. Everything changed, and I got the support from CARE in the form of a first push to get started with a new life.
Learn more about CARE's work in Jordan.