October 8, 2023
Stories
Starting a business requires management skills and money for essential tools. In areas once under ISIS control, locals find it even tougher to set up businesses. Sarri, from Al-Amiriah in Iraq, a father of three, chose to open his butchery after parting ways with his business partner. Caritas Czech Republic assisted Sarri with management training and funds for needed supplies.
Out of challenge comes opportunity
Sarri, twenty-eight years old, a resident of Al-Amiria in the Anbar governorate of Iraq, lives with his wife and three children in a rented home. During the time ISIS controlled the region, he was not yet married. Sarri noticed our field monitor for the project in a nearby shop one morning after opening his butcher shop: “I asked him what kind of information he was collecting? And why?” said Sarri, because he wanted to know how he could be part of this project. “I asked him to evaluate my butchery place too and listed the tools I needed for my shop,” he continued.
Sarri was accepted as one of our project participants in Anbar, where he first received business management training for 15 days. “We have work experience, but we needed to learn how to market, manage, and grow our businesses,” says Sarri. He has developed new ways of managing, such as knowing his weaknesses; he hired an assistant so his shop can be open throughout the day. Developing communication styles, gaining new customers, and calculating profit and loss are among the skills Sarri developed through this training.
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime
Sarri benefited greatly from the training he received, and Caritas Czech Republic also provided him with financial support to develop his business. With this grant, he invested in the essential tools and equipment. He purchased two refrigerators, that allowed him to store a significant amount of meat and ensure its freshness for a longer period of time. He also acquired a substantial meat grinder, a durable alabaster stone table, an air conditioner to cool the shop and much more. All these upgrades boosted Sarri's income and attracted more customers to his butchery. “Thanks to the improvements, I can always offer fresh meat to my customers,” says Sarri. People tell their friends about Sarri's shop because they like the meat and service he provides.
What Caritas Czech Republic is doing to support people in Iraq
In Iraq, Caritas Czech Republic has shifted its focus from providing immediate humanitarian aid to aiding the nation's developmental journey. We target areas that ISIS once controlled, helping displaced people and host communities re-establish their lives and homes. In the Anbar governorate, our projects have spanned various areas. We have worked on restoring water channels, offering cash-for-work opportunities, and providing on-the-job training for the youth, among other initiatives.
We have helped numerous men and women in the region by offering essential assistance. Working closely with Secours Catholique - Caritas France, Caritas Czech Republic launched the "Emergency livelihoods support for vulnerable IDPs in Al-Amiriyah, Anbar Governorate" project. Through this initiative, we extended business management and social cohesion training to the people there. Additionally, we provided business grants, social cohesion training, and on-the-job training to 100 individuals in Al-Amiriah. Our primary goal was to support the internally displaced individuals and the local communities in creating steady sources of income in various fields.
