Our impact, their voices
Partnership and business training transforms lives of two Syrian Refugees in Egypt
Through the ILO’s Enterprise Development Programme, two Syrian refugees, Mohamed Khir Khaled Darwish and Mohamed Moataz Abd El Karim, found a new beginning and partnered to open a successful upholstery and curtain workshop, transforming their lives and achieving stability.
28 June 2024
Cairo, Egypt, June 20, 2024 – In the heart of Alexandria, two young Syrians, Mohamed Khir Khaled Darwish and Mohamed Moataz Abd El Karim, are weaving new lives in Egypt. In their small workshop, they are not just making upholstery and curtains; they are building their futures.
Mohamed Khir Khaled Darwish, a 21-year-old with a dream, came to Egypt two years ago. After losing his father and experiencing the war in Syria, Darwish had to leave his family behind and seek refuge in Egypt. Despite dropping out of school, he had hopes for a better future. He worked in several workshops for a year before joining the ILO’s Enterprise Development Programme in December 2022. There, he gained the skills needed to start his own business, but his income was still too low to open an upholstery workshop.
Mohamed Moataz Abd El Karim, a 34-year-old father of two, has been in Egypt since 2017. He initially learned to make curtains but had to close his first business after six months. His determination never wavered, and he joined the ILO’s Enterprise Development Programme in January 2023. This training was crucial, teaching him client relations, financial management, and product marketing.
Their trainer, Hamad, suggested that Abd El Karim and Darwish partner up to leverage their combined skills. Both men welcomed the idea, seeing it as more than just a business arrangement—it was a chance to make their dreams a reality.
"We are pleased to witness the positive impact on the entrepreneurs," said Shrouk Ahmed, Project Coordinator at Caritas-Alexandria. "The commitment demonstrated by Darwish and Abd El Karim is truly inspirational. Their dedication serves as a beacon of hope."
Pooling their resources, they rented a shop and got to work. The results were immediate. "My income doubled, my life improved, and I can now send money to my family in Syria," said Darwish.
For Abd El Karim, the partnership brought stability and growth. He could finally invest in workshop equipment and send his child to school for the first time after arriving in Egypt.
Amir Obeid, Programme Manager for ILO’s PROSPECTS Egypt, remarked, "Darwish and Abd El Karim’s journey is inspirational. Their resolve to shape new beginnings stands as a testament to the human spirit. This determination resonates deeply with us at the ILO. The Enterprise Development Programme in Egypt has empowered over 5,000 entrepreneurs, transforming lives."
Both men now share the dream of owning a larger workshop on a busy street, attracting more clients, and becoming well-known in the upholstery and curtains industry. As they look to the future, they are ready to craft the next chapter of their remarkable journey.