Al-Qatn Girls Transform Mobile Device Maintenance into Opportunities for Economic and Social Growth in a Challenging Context

In Yemen, a country marked by years of conflict and one of the world's most serious humanitarian crises, women are writing a new page of hope and innovation. In a context where access to education and work is often denied to women, stories like those of Khawla and Mashar, two young entrepreneurs from the Al-Qatn district, in the Hadramout region, demonstrate how female entrepreneurship can become a driver of social and economic transformation.

An opportunity where 80 percent of women are unable to work

In a country where only 20 percent of women formally participate in the labor market, two young women found an unexpected opportunity in cell phone maintenance. Thanks to a project funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Small and Micro Enterprises Promotion Service (SMEPS), they acquired technical and entrepreneurial skills that changed the course of their lives.
Khawla, who now runs a small repair shop right from her home, proudly says:

“Before this course, I had never thought of working in a technical sector. Now, not only do I repair phones, but I also have customers who come specifically from other villages because they trust my work. Many women prefer to bring their devices to me rather than to a man, and this has given me great satisfaction.”

Mashar, on the other hand, chose to open a real shop, openly challenging gender stereotypes.

“At first, some male clients were wary, but when they saw that my work was precise and professional, they changed their minds,”

she explains. Today, her business has grown to the point where she can hire an assistant and promote her services through social media, reaching an ever-growing clientele.

The weight of traditions and the power of change according to Yasmin Ali Al Qadhi

These stories are not just personal successes, but also a symbol of a break with deeply rooted cultural norms. In a Yemen that the World Economic Forum ranks second to last in the global gender gap, each small victory actually takes on a larger meaning.
Yasmin Ali Al Qadhi, women's rights activist and president of the Marib Girls' Foundation, explains:

“What Khawla and Mashar are doing is revolutionary. They are not only making money, but they are showing that Yemeni women can excel in traditionally male-dominated fields. This has a huge impact on the younger generations, who are finally starting to see different possibilities for their future.”

The crucial role of international cooperation and local organizations

Khawla and Mashar's journey would not have been possible without the support of programs aimed at women's empowerment. Organizations such as the Yemeni Women's Union (YWU), active since 1990, have been working for years to provide women with concrete tools for economic independence, through microcredit, literacy courses and vocational training.
However, the challenges remain immense. Access to electricity and spare parts is often patchy, and many women face resistance from their communities. Yet, it is precisely in these difficulties that the determination of those who, like young Khawla and Mashar, have decided not to give up emerges.

Towards a more inclusive future even in a tormented country thanks to UNDP

What these women are building is not just an economic activity, but an alternative development model, based on the inclusion and valorization of female potential. Their success has already inspired other young Yemenis to undertake similar paths, and international organizations are evaluating how to replicate this model in other regions of the country in the southern Arabian Peninsula.
Helen Clark, former UNDP administrator, has stressed on several occasions how

“Investing in Yemeni women is not just a matter of social justice, but an intelligent strategy for the reconstruction of the country.”

The stories of Khawla and Mashar are tangible proof: where there is opportunity, training and support, Yemeni women can become protagonists of lasting change.

Beyond repairs and borders, a lesson in courage for the entire planet

As the world looks at Yemen through the lens of crisis, these women are a reminder that even in the most difficult circumstances, innovation and tenacity can open unexpected paths. Their stories are not just about repaired phones, smartphones and cell phones, but about regained trust, transformed communities and, most importantly, a future that, step by step, becomes possible.
And perhaps this is the most powerful message: in a wounded country, female entrepreneurship is not only creating jobs: it is building hope.

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