Among the beneficiaries of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (SEED) Project, are three hardworking young men from Butiye in Moyale: Ibrahim Adan, 27, Abdifatah Adan, 32, and Boru Mohamed Abduba, 24. Together, they formed the Mubeen Motorbike Repair Business Group, an enterprise that would not only repair motorcycles but also transform their lives and those of their families.
Before SEED, life was tough for Ibrahim, Abdifatah, and Boru. They lacked capital, hindering their progress. However, all that changed when the BOMA SEED program came into their lives. Ibrahim, the visionary, had a deep desire to become a versatile handyman. With the guidance of his cousin, who was already skilled in motorbike repairs, Ibrahim started his journey into the world of entrepreneurship. “
We do motorcycle repair, sell spare parts, repair bicycles and Tuk-tuks. We even do DSTV dish installation and house wiring. We do many things,” Ibrahim proudly shared during an interview.
With SEED’s training, they acquired valuable business skills, learned how to come up with business ideas, record-keeping, saving, goal setting, and embraced the concept of savings groups. “When BOMA came, we benefitted because they were our eyes and ears. They taught us how to run a business and how to save money.” Shared Boru. The newfound knowledge empowered them to make well-informed decisions, manage their business effectively, and plan for the future.
“We did not have enough knowledge to run a business before SEED came in. They taught us how to manage business, approach wellwishers for funding, and more,” Ibrahim explained. Through SEED’s support, they managed to save and invest in essential tools like a motorcycle air compressor and special equipment that opened up new opportunities for their garage.”
After getting the capital from the training, we kept working and saving, and we managed to buy a motorcycle air compressor machine that is used when motorbikes have a puncture. We also managed to buy some special tools that we did not have. The capital we got has really helped us,” Ibrahim shared proudly.
The impact of SEED extended beyond their garage. The Mubeen group is part of a savings group called Kuva, which empowered them to access loans for business expansion. Together, they bought a Tuk-tuk, and ventured into the transport business in their area. For Boru, life was transformed from joblessness and struggling to making ends meet. “Initially I did not have the kind of ideas BOMA gave us. I used to be jobless, idle and sometimes I would contemplate using drugs because I was idle. I had no one to give me ideas or guide me,” Boru said. He also added, “We now have money for emergencies for example money to go to hospital, we don’t have to go and borrow from other people like before. In the past, we used to eat lunch alone, right now we can afford to have breakfast and supper as well.”
Through hard work, determination, and SEED’s support, the Mubeen Motorbike Repair continues flourishing. They now have a steady income to pay for their children’s education, daily expenses, and even managed to buy a tuk-tuk for the group’s convenience. “The tuk-tuk we bought is helping us contribute monthly to the savings group. Sometimes it helps us carry the spare parts that we buy, other times I ferry my brother Ibrahim to the place the customer needs him. It saves on the cost of transport,” said Abdifatah. As for Abdifatah, he had been working as a Tuk-tuk driver before SEED, sharing his hard-earned money with the owner of the Tuk-tuk but after joining Mubeen, he became the group’s marketer and Tuk-tuk driver, which opened new doors for their business.”Since there are many tuk-tuks in town and I know the drivers, I get to bring in customers for my brother Ibrahim when their tuk-tuks have mechanical issues,” Abdifatah joyfully shared. Looking towards the future, their dreams grow even bigger.
They aspire to expand their business, acquire more knowledge, import spare parts from India and become role models for other youth in their community.”My future plans are to get married since I am not married now. When you get married and run a business, you get to save more because you have a wife. You cannot joke with money because you know that you have someone to take care of. That is on my mind; however, the most important thing for me is to start my own business,” Boru shared, hope shining in his eyes.
As the Mubeen Motorbike Repair Group continues to thrive and make strides, they serve as evidence that with determination, knowledge, and the right support, vulnerable and marginalized youth can start their own businesses however small, break free from the chains of poverty, build lasting livelihoods, and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
The Mubeen Motorbike Repair Group is confident they will journey even further, carrying the torch of sustainable entrepreneurship and economic development for vulnerable and marginalized youth in their region.
