Story Summary:

Tsion is 23 years old. She was born and raised in a small village in Ethiopia. She didn’t have a job following school and, as a result, she used to sell clothes to make ends meet. Nowadays, however, she manages a tire repair shop wherein she makes a reliable living. Via this tire shop she’s able to support herself as well as help out her two brothers who are pursuing their education in a nearby city.

Tsion’s family used to run a tire repair shop, but she wasn’t interested in the business initially. However, this changed when she heard about an opportunity that was recruiting unemployed youth for business initiatives in her village. Soon after, she enrolled in the Leadership and Economic Empowerment Program (LEEP), which provided her with trainings on work readiness, entrepreneurship, and gender equality. By way of these trainings as well as cash assistance from Save the Children and a loan from her father, Tsion was able to buy essential maintenance tools and set up her own tire repair shop.

In the beginning, parts of her village doubted that Tsion would be able to run her own business. She was told that she wouldn’t be able to retain customers because tire repair was a man’s job. Eventually, however, people saw how skilled she was at her job and, thereafter, everyone in her neighbourhood started going to her for their tire maintenance. Due to her business doing well, Tsion was able to open an additional location in a nearby village. Her financial situation improved greatly as a result.
Looking forward, Tsion dreams of opening a string of auto repair shops. She hopes to continue evolving as a young female entrepreneur.

How is Save the Children helping?

Tsion participated in the Save the Children supported Leadership and Economic Empowerment Program (LEEP), which provides young individuals with trainings on work readiness, entrepreneurship, and gender equality. Over the next three years, this program will invest in 8,900 young female entrepreneurs (18 to 34) while providing trainings and mentorship to sustainably grow their businesses.

In addition to participating in these LEEP trainings, Save the Children provided Tsion with cash assistance to help in getting her tire repair shop started.

Strong Quotes:

“One of the main lessons I learned is that we shouldn’t listen to negative feedback from the community. If I had listened to what people said [about me], I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

“My message to the community is that women should receive support from their families in everything they do.”
“Repairing motorcycles isn’t the end of my dreams. One day, I hope to operate an auto repair shop using the knowledge and self-assurance I received from [Save the Children].”

In Tsion’s own words:

Tsion discusses her job and other employment endeavours

My name is Tsion. I was born and raised in a small village in Ethiopia. I manage a tire repair business where I make a reliable living. Not only do I support myself, but I help my two brothers who are pursuing their education at Hawassa.

In addition, I’m a member of a group of young women who founded a soap production plant with the assistance of Save the Children. I work every other day under our shift arrangement. I leave my companion in the garage to cover for me while I take my turn at the soap processing plant.

The tire repair business was difficult and complicated at first, but now that I’ve put a lot of work into it, I’m glad everything is working out nicely. I’ve been able to expand the business and establish an additional repair shop in a nearby village with the money I save every month. My financial situation has improved greatly and I’ve continued to save.

Tsion explains how Save the Children helped her with this tire repair business

I didn’t initially start this tire repair shop. I heard about an opportunity from the local administration office. Save the Children was recruiting unemployed youth for entrepreneurship and work readiness initiatives in our village. At the time, I had completed tenth grade and had no job. I used to sell clothes in the nearby village.

My family used to run a tire repair business, but I was initially not interested in joining them. However, everything changed when I enrolled in the Leadership and Economic Empowerment Program (LEEP) – a training called work readiness. Through this initiative, I gained the skills and knowledge that are required to start a tire repair business of my own.

Thanks to the training, the money I received from Save the Children and the small loan that I took from my father, I was able to buy some maintenance tools and set up my own tire repair shop.
Tsion describes how she benefitted from LEEP and the challenges she overcame as woman working in a tire repair shop

The LEEP project by Save the Children provided us with some fascinating training on work readiness and how to become our own bosses. In addition, we received training on gender equality.
During the training, I had an unforgettable encounter where the facilitator asked me what I was going to do with the knowledge I had gained. Everyone laughed when I said at the time that I wanted to open a tire repair shop or a male hair salon. This is because many believed that males should only perform such tasks, however, when they later witnessed what I was accomplishing, they were surprised by my level of success and they started to see me as a role model.

Before, just because I'm a woman, some people didn't think that I could fix tires. Some motorcyclists who were sceptical of my abilities, drove their motorbikes to other towns [to get repaired]. However, after they saw my skill level, they understood that a woman can do such a job too. Now, everyone in this neighbourhood comes to me for tire repairs. They only visit other locations if I'm closed.

One of the main lessons I learned is that we shouldn’t listen to negative feedback from the community. If I had listened to what people said [about me], I wouldn’t be where I am now. My message to the community is that women should receive support from their families in everything they do.

Tsion discusses unemployment in her community

In our community, being unemployed is considered shameful. We have an old proverb that says, “Only those who work deserve to eat.” The situation was very difficult when even young university graduates remained unemployed for a while. I detested unemployment and enjoyed finding any work that I could. The training opportunity that LEEP offered me boosted my motivation to create a job and avoid unemployment.

In my opinion, unemployment is very hard, however, those who are internally motivated and believe they can create their own jobs should not be regarded as jobless because they may succeed one day. I believe that it’s the lack of internal motivation that often makes someone unemployed.

Working for the government isn’t the only way to have a job. If a person can save some of the money they earn and create their own job, they should be regarded as self-employed.

Tsion discusses her dreams and goals for the future

Repairing motorcycles isn’t the end of my dreams. One day, I hope to operate an auto repair shop using the knowledge and self-assurance I received from [Save the Children]. Not just here, but in nearby towns as well, I wish to grow my business. My goal is to purchase land in the neighbouring town and I’ve been consistently saving money to make this happen.

My tire repair shop, which I own and run here, isn’t fully furnished or of a high capacity. There are a few things that need to be finished, so my goal is to get all the equipment I need to expand the business in the future.