Cairo, 02 February 2019 – In the framework of its Regional Refugee Resilience Plan (3RP) project, funded by the Government of Japan, IOM implemented a two-week workshop, in close collaboration with Crown Consulting and the reputable jewelry designer Suhayla El Sheikh, founder of Sandboxsu Jewelry. Fifty-two Syrian and Egyptian women took part in an apprenticeship programme on creative thinking, jewelry making techniques, and skills for establishing and running a small business.

Crown Consulting, a company providing creative and practical entrepreneurship training courses for youth to kick-start sustainable businesses, and Sandboxsu, a reputable jewelry brand in Egypt and the Middle East, provided the training. Following the course, a panel comprised of IOM, the founder of Sandboxsu, the founder of Crown Consulting, and a fashion influencer selected 24 women with the best and most prominent business concepts to kickstart their projects.

The participants were trained by the founder/designer of Sandbox Jewelry, Suhayla Al Sheikh, on translating thoughts and ideas into visuals, using special items and available materials in order to create their designs. “The training has opened my eyes to having a new dream of one day working in fashion and creating pieces based on my story”, says one of the Syrian ladies, who was without work for years after arriving to Egypt.

“We want to offer these women real opportunities, changing their current realities and helping them access their potential. Our partnership with IOM has enabled us to empower women to move past their day to day hurdles and realize what they want for their futures, and the futures of their children and families”, says Ms Kamal, co-founder of Crown Consulting.

Kits and materials for the women to continue their small businesses will be provided by IOM, and the new brand to be developed will help the participants access new markets and new opportunities. “It was insightful to watch these women go from doubting their own skills and capacity, to having a clear and insightful vision for their products and art” says Ms El Sheikh, Founder of Sandboxsu Jewelry.

IOM will also work with Crown Consulting and Sandboxsu Jewelry to launch a new Instagram and social media presence to market high quality products that are developed by the migrant and Egyptian women, offering them sustainable opportunities in Egypt’s domestic markets, and empowering them to overcome possible challenges.

This initiative and its interventions are in line with Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy: Vision 2030 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 8: Good jobs and Economic Growth, and Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals.

For more information, please contact Omar Awwad at IOM Egypt, Tel: +2 02 2736 5140/1 Email: oawwad@iom.int