Souk Ne’meh Supports Women Entrepreneurs to Grow and Better Support Their Families
Creativity has no boundaries, but cultural and financial challenges could have swayed 30 women entrepreneurs from Jordan’s most impoverished areas from chasing their dreams, and elevating their minimal income, if it wasn’t for the professional and economic empowerment they received through the Women Economic Empowerment project.
As part of the project which is funded by the Government of Finland and in partnership with the Princess Taghreed Institute for Development and Training, women participants underwent sales and marketing training sessions on promotional techniques, high quality packaging and labeling, pricing and other topics to prepare them for the weekly local produce market — Souk Ne’meh.
Souk Ne’meh is a unique market idea created to support women entrepreneurs by helping them grow their sales of home-made food products and handicrafts and expand their customers’ base by participating in the market which is held every Saturday in Amman — the capital.
The participating women who comes from Tafileh, Karak, Ajloun, Mafraq, Irbid, Salt and other areas every week, taking advantage of the transportation subsidiary provided by the initiative, share the grit and determination, as well as the difficult living situations caused by a struggling economy and sometimes in addition to an unfortunate domestic situation where a husband or a kid is living with a disability.
Fatima Zakarneh, one of the participants says: “despite my husband’s opposition of my leaving the house for work, and holding a bachelor degree in a totally different area (Management Information Systems), I insisted on following my passion in ceramic art. UNDP gave me a chance to be responsible for my family, I now contribute to my family’s income and make something for myself too” she adds.
“we work on empowering women in AL-Salt city, especially those who are uneducated.”
-Maysoon Freihat, head of Al-Marjan association
Around 300 visitors come to Souk Ne’meh every week for a chance to enjoy healthy home-made food such as dried herbs, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, pickles, fresh-from-the-oven baked goods and alternatives to commercial cooking additives. They can also find beautiful handcrafts such hand-painted coffee and tea sets, straw dishes and hats and other fascinating hand-made home decorations.
Souk Nemeh offers a space for community based organizations to display products made by members of these organizations thus supporting many local women economically.
Maisoon Freihat, head of Al-Marjan association emphasizes: “we work on empowering women in AL-Salt city, especially those who are uneducated. The suggestion to participate in this market came through members of the association who believe that Souk Ne’meh is a great environment to sell their products”.
Um Sameer, member of another association in Ajloun and a mother for 9 children who specializes in baked bread and traditional Jordanian food cooked in pottery, brought her children with her from Ajloun to enjoy the lovely atmosphere and play with the natural play-dough at the kids corner.
“I enjoy being here in the Souq, being exposed to new experiences in addition to promoting my products which helps in increasing my income“ says Wissam Manasreh who makes all-natural perfumes and soaps.
“Ladies who sell their products through the association were housewives with no jobs before. Now, they make money enough to support their kids and families”
-Fatima Al-Momani, head of Anwar Ebbin Association
Women in many rural areas in Jordan are still practicing the traditional ways of food processing at home, a group of ambitious local women in Ebbin — Ajloun governorate, are working hard to preserve this tradition and standardize it, one of them is Fatima Al-Momani, head of Anwar Ebbin association who brings various products made by members of the association with her to Souk Ne’meh every Saturday. “Ladies who sell their products through the association were housewives with no jobs before. Now, they make money enough to support their kids and families”, Says Fatima.
25 years old Adnan Ali, from Madaba, participates in Souk Nemeh not just to help his mother but because he wants to support Jordanian creative talents. He thinks that “the market is a good place to promote innovative products such as barley and date seed coffee” made by his mother. Many buyers come back to Adnan’s kiosk to renew their home supplies of healthy Turkish and espresso coffee as well as natural oils and spices.
“I am dreaming of turning this simple business into a big dairy factory. One day, I will have my dairy products everywhere in Jordan”
-Yusra Al-Nawayseh from Tafileh governorate
Souk Nemeh is part of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)’s initiative “Women Economic Empowerment” under the support of the Government of Finland. The project is implemented by The Princess Taghrid Institute for Development and Training and aims at supporting women entrepreneurs in rural areas to earn a sustainable income to support their families and communities.
