Al-Amarin: from an NGO volunteer to selling jewelry
In the middle of the market, surrounding the “Sewadi” UNRWA clinic in Gaza City, Mohammed Al-Amarin, sits behind his small street stand, displaying a variety of accessories of Chinese gold.
Simply displaying his jewelry and accessories on a wooden board, Al-Amarin sells them in low prices to provide for his family on a daily basis. 29-year-old Mohammed is married with three children and is physically impaired.
Several years ago and after receiving a degree in accounting, Al-Amarin worked at a supermarket for two years. He then volunteered at a number of NGOs including the General Union of Disabled but he couldn’t find an ongoing position that would provide his everyday needs.
Later on, he began working with a friend on a street stand selling Chinese gold. He learned a lot about the craft: how to buy the goods, how to display them, and how to market them. He afterwards began thinking of owning a small stand that he turn into a shop in the future.
Early 2018, Al-Amarin noticed the small grants project advertised by the Social Developmental Forum while on Facebook. He filled out the application.
“I was very pleased to get a call back from the Forum’s team after going in for an interview. The training began a couple of days later and we received administrative and financial skills training and digital marketing with a large group of participants.” Al-Amarin stated.
Over the course of two consecutive weeks, 100 trainees with disabilities received intensive training, during which they developed their administrative and financial skills, and then professionally wrote their small business ideas with the help of a specialized team, 50 of them qualified for the “Step to Future” boot camp, the final step before acquiring funding.
Al-Amarin focused on writing a professional business plan to impress the boot camp’s judging panel. He took the stage before the panel and spoke about his business. He convinced the panel and was among the 13 wining businesses.
Following receiving the fund, he began setting up his business supplies including a wooden table, a small display cabin and the Chinese gold accessories. Every day, he would display his goods in “Sewadi” market and persudes shoppers to buy them at their low prices.
“When I was a volunteer or worked temporary positions for a two or three months, I wasn’t able to provide for my home. I could barely afford our necessities. My kids would ask me for things but I couldn’t get it”, Mohammed said.
He continued, “Today when I started working on my own stand, selling and buying goods, it made a huge difference in my life. I feel that I can lift my family to a better life and provide a decent living for my children. I’m now at a very good stage. I could afford to buy my son the bicycle he’s been wanting for a long time.”
Al-Amarin started his business and now dreams of turning it into a shop specializing in the sale of Chinese gold through the investment of the small grant. He stated that the current stand that he owns is an important source of income.
It is noted that the project “Supporting the efforts of persons with disabilities to contribute to positive social and economic empowerment in the Gaza Strip is implemented by the Social Development Forum with funding from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).