Muhammad - Success in the Bazar

Muhammad left Afghanistan due to the political instability in the country. After arriving in Belgium at the end of 2015 and applying for asylum he resided in the Red Cross facility in Manderfeld. His request for asylum was denied several times. He started missing his family and realized that a permanent stay in Belgium would be difficult to obtain. After receiving information concerning the support he would receive by returning voluntarily to Afghanistan, he decided to go back to his family and restart his life in his home country.

After his return to Kabul, Muhammad contacted the IOM office in Kabul and informed them of his idea for a micro business. He had chosen to utilize his in-kind support in a fabrics store. The store offers a variety of fabrics for tents, sofas and different types of waterproof fabrics. As for the location, he selected the city’s main Bazar, a populated area and a great spot for a starting business. Since starting a business by himself was not a given, he partnered up with one of his friends who already had a business license and experience in dealing with fabrics. Muhammad's added value is his communication skills gained from previous working experiences, therefore he is more involved in sales-related activities.