MAYSA AL QADI

Sudan – Bitagdary, a Sudanese platform aiming to promote women’s economic empowerment, organizes vocational training courses to increase women’s participation in the labor force and social life, supports women entrepreneurs and raises awareness about women’s rights in Sudan.  

 NuJINHA spoke to Muntaha Abdullah, founder of the platform, about the activities of the platform. “The platform organizes vocational training courses for women and girls to promote women’s economic empowerment. We work in coordination with companies to provide job opportunities for women and girls after they complete the courses successfully,” she told us.

Muntaha Abdullah founded the platform with little money. “I sold my mobile phone to start my first project; however, the ongoing conflict in Sudan made me lose everything. But I did not give up and started from scratch with great hope and determination.”

She opened her own veterinary clinics

Hala Abdel Halim, a veterinarian, lost her job after being displaced from Khartoum due to the conflict. Then, she opened her own veterinary clinic with the support of the platform. “The platform organized a course to support women entrepreneurs. I attended the course and learned how to start my own business and market my project. The platform encouraged me to share my experiences with others. Thanks to the platform, I opened my own veterinary clinics.”

Speaking about the challenges faced by her, she said, “It was not easy since I was a displaced woman. I was in a different environment, with different people having different customs. But I overcame all the challenges in time thanks to the platform.

‘Your determination is important’

Sawsan Naji, another female entrepreneur supported by the platform, earns a living by making incense burners. “I started my project three years ago with the support of the platform. In a short time, I became one of the most famous entrepreneurs in the region. When I first started my project, I just had 10 dollars,” she said, calling on all women not to “worry when you start your own projects. You will definitely find someone to support you. Your determination is important.”