From Fabric to Future: How One Entrepreneur is Sewing a New Path

Every six months, we welcome a new cohort of aspiring business owners and established entrepreneurs eager to sharpen their skills and take their businesses to the next level. In a country where opportunities to develop business acumen have been historically limited, our Business Development Program is filling a crucial gap. Entrepreneurs are seizing this opportunity with both hands—and their success stories prove just how impactful this program is.

Take Susan, for example—a passionate entrepreneur who is transforming her fashion business with the skills she gained in our program. When Susan enrolled last year, she didn’t just show up; she committed. Twice a week, for six months, she made an arduous two-hour journey each way to attend. Why? Because she knew it was an investment in her future.

“It was very worth it,” she beamed. “I enjoyed that class—it was the most excited I’ve ever been about learning. It really taught me to understand business and how to reinvest money into my business.”

Susan proudly showed us her new ledger, a tool she learned to use during the program to track her finances. In her small shop, where vibrant fabrics drape from the corrugated tin roof and her sewing machine sits ready for the next order, she is putting her education into practice. Like so many street-side vendors, Susan operates out of a modest wooden and tin structure. But every month, she sets aside savings to invest in a larger space—laying the literal foundation for her business expansion. With a bigger shop, she plans to train aspiring tailors, create jobs, and increase her production capacity.

One of the most valuable lessons she took away from the program was the importance of customer service. She now sees every interaction as an opportunity to grow her reputation.

“The best way to advertise is through the quality of my work and how I treat my customers,” she explained.

Susan’s journey is just beginning, but thanks to the skills and confidence she’s gained, her vision for the future is clearer than ever. We are thrilled to see her implementing what she learned, and we can’t wait to follow her progress as she builds toward her five-year plan.

Your support makes success stories like Susan’s possible. By investing in entrepreneurs like her, you’re not just helping businesses grow—you’re creating jobs, strengthening communities, and empowering individuals to shape their own futures.