Meet Tahani, a deaf business owner

"I’m the breadwinner of the family. I sew clothes and make accessories and incense,” Tahani Al-Nihmi explains to us in sign language.

Tahani is living in Yemen, a country where two-thirds of the population need humanitarian assistance. For Tahani, accessing basic services like food, medical care and education are far from her only challenges.

Many Yemenis have become unemployed since the conflict escalated in 2015, and there are few jobs accessible to people who are deaf.

Tahani completed secondary education in a school for people who are deaf and is happy with that achievement. But she struggled when she found herself the breadwinner for her four sisters and mother.

Becoming the family breadwinner

“After the death of my father before the conflict, I had no choice but to find work to provide a decent living for my family as I’m the eldest of my sisters,” says Tahani.

Tahani struggled to provide for her family when food prices increased and jobs disappeared. When she tried to think of different work that might fit her skills and capacities, it was hard to find one.

Tahani’s mother is an older person, and it was difficult for her mother to make a living from sewing. Luckily, Tahani is skilled in sewing clothes and hand embroidery, so she did not hesitate to start using the sewing machine available to her from her mother.

“I learned sewing skills in school, and it is also one of the suitable jobs for deaf people so that was my only choice.”

Tahani sewing. Photo: Saqer Abu Hassan/NRC

"Determination helped me"

Tahani, who communicates through an interpreter, confirms that, at the beginning, work was difficult as customers always needed something perfect.

“In the beginning I was thinking about income, as I need money to provide for my family. So I couldn’t focus on my work and I was worried. But determination helped me to overcome that.”

She is now a professional in sewing traditional clothes and making accessories. However, her sewing machine was old. She had been struggling with it and sometimes could not afford fabric and tools for embroidery.

Cash assistance and business training

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with the support from the European Union, intervened in the area where Tahani lives, Dhammar governorate. Here we have helped 150 families, including Tahani’s, with cash assistance to develop or start small businesses, and we conducted business management trainings.

Distribution of the cash assistance in Dhammar governorate. Photo: Saqer Abu Hassan/NRC

A new sewing machine

“I received advanced training in sewing clothes, hand embroidery and also making incense, which I was interested in learning about but hadn’t had a chance to previously,” Tahani explains.

She used the money she received from NRC to buy a new sewing machine and tools for her job so she now can earn more income than before. She is planning to develop her small business further in the future.

“I used to make around 15,000 Yemeni Riyal (USD 27) per month but now my income has increased by around double. I am sure it will increase before Eid, and that is because I have a new sewing machine and other necessary tools.”

Tahani now also sends her products to be sold in a small shop near her home, which connects her with new customers.

“Deaf people need more support.”

“I’m happy that I received support during this difficult time, but my message is that deaf people need more support as there are many who are struggling. I hope those who can do something for them don’t hesitate to do so.”