Maximising Opportunities
55 year old Ayoud had been unemployed for 15 years before receiving support from Al Fakhoora and UNDP's DEEP program to start his own business, while one of his son's Hussain received a Dynamic Future's scholarship, Ayoub and his eldest son ran the business and found a unique way to reinvest in their family's future.
Ayoub Al Zwaidi, 55, lives in Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip. Ayoub is the main breadwinner for a household of ten. He has been unemployed for over 15 years, as he used to be a part of the agricultural labor force that lost access to work due to restrictions imposed over Palestinian workers inside Israel. Ayoub had no chances to have a fixed job, yet he was having short time employment that was not enough to ensure a sustainable income.
In 2011, Al Fakhoora – and the UNDP DEEP team visited Ayoub’s family and based on the sustainable livelihood approach the family was classified as being deprived, but with strong human capital.
One of Ayoub’s sons, Nour, 23, was not able to complete his secondary education, left school and joined a vocational training course to be a barber. The family requested to open their own barbershop where Nour could work and support the family. Al Fakhoora and DEEP awarded Ayoub $4000 to start his business. The family preferred to allocate a room in their house to open the business, instead of paying money for rent.
Hussain, 20, Ayoub youngest son, has been awarded Al Fakhoora’s Dynamic Futures Scholarship. Currently Hussain in his third year of Educational Arabic studies at Al-Azhar University in Gaza.
According to financial records, net income ranges from $250 to $300 per month, yet in particular seasons, such as holidays or special occasions, the income can reach over $500 per month. In addition, one year after starting the barbershop, Ayoud invested some of his money and started a small rabbit-breeding farm, where he raises rabbits and sells them, contributing even more to his monthly income and ability to support his family.
“Both the project support and Hussain’s scholarship have been very important to the family’s stability and I would not have been able to finance Hussain’s education alone. To be the eldest son, only earning diploma and never working in my field, at least I can be proud of having a stable income during the last two years.”
