After graduating, Khanda sought every opportunity possible to find a source of income to start her career. But she just couldn’t find a job in the field of microbiology.
So she broadened her search and while she was looking for any kind of work, she saw an online advertisement for vocational training provided by Islamic Relief Iraq and applied:
I was delighted when I received a call from Islamic Relief saying that my application had been accepted for hairdressing training.
Khanda had no previous experience in the beauty sector but this didn’t deter her:
I put all my energy into the programme to gain as much experience as possible so I could combine this experience with my educational background.
After graduating from the programme and receiving her certificate, she was eligible to apply for other jobs and opportunities. She then applied for a business start-up grant from the European Technology & Training Centre and received a grant of £1,385.
Alhamdulillah, Khanda was then able to open a shop to sell healthy beauty products – combining her background in microbiology and beauty.
At first, Khanda received some criticism for her work but this did not deter her:
Don’t listen to negative comments. I received comments saying this is not what you qualified for, but now I have my own business and the same people are coming to my shop to buy products.
Now I’m thinking of making my business international.
Thanks to the Islamic Relief programme and your generous donations, Khanda has been able to create a bright future for herself.
She is incredibly grateful for your support and has big dreams. She’s now thinking about making her own brand:
I thank God for always being with me and both Islamic Relief Iraq and the EU for providing me with this training and certificate that meant I could start my own business.
Thank you for your continued support. You’re helping to transform the lives of women like Khanda and many, many more.
You truly are lifesavers.