Young entrepreneur shows there is always hope

Semir is 18 years old and lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Semir could say many things about his homeland. He could say that Bosnia and Herzegovina has a good football team, or that the landscape is beautiful. He could also mention the statistics and say that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with the highest youth unemployment rate in the region. He could add that it is also a country where 67 days and 12 procedures are needed to start a business, almost six times longer than what is needed in Europe or Central Asia. 

He could say many things, but he is not getting discouraged.

It’s been four days since Semir opened his hair salon in the small community of Tojšići in the North East of the country. “It is not difficult, but it is not easy either” he says, as he shampoos the hair of this client. “You must think of everything and you must do it all on time: pay bills, keep the books, etc”.   

As with most of the newly opened spaces, the saloon is still being equipped. One of the white walls is empty, and entrance window is to be changed. Sitting in the waiting area, 28-year old woman talks about leaving the country to work as nanny in European Union.

But Semir is fulfilling his dream in Bosnia and Herzegovina which would have not been possible without the support from his family, friends, but also World Vision. Together with 29 of his peers, Semir participated in World Vision’s project to empower young entrepreneurs. These high school students spent six months getting trained on how to build and develop their entrepreneurship skills. The project aimed to increase the chances of young people for self-employment by building their personal capacities and raising awareness. After the completion of six months training, each participant had to write a business plan and the best four received around 3,250 EUR to start their own business.

Semir was one of them. “I was surprised. But I also hoped to get it. There is always hope” he says with a smile. He used the money to open his hair salon which is now the only source of income for his family. “Words cannot describe how much this means to us” says Semir’s mother Enisa “My husband doesn’t work, I don’t work, and our other son is a student….”

As Semir’s friends pop in to greet Semir, Enisa acts as the host and runs to offer coffee and tea to the visitors. “My heart is full” she says proudly, putting hand on her chest “He wanted this so much and he worked for it. I do worry, but I am also here to help him.”

Armina Silic, World Vision project manager is happy to see the results of the project. “These young people, all four of them, are living their dreams and being part of that is priceless. The project managed to accomplish what it is aimed to do: we have empowered young men and women with skills and knowledge to participate in Bosnian and Herzegovinian economy.”

When asked what message he would send to his peers thinking of starting their own business, Samir’s answer is simple:  “They should believe in themselves, never give up and fulfill their dream”

For more on Semir and his saloon, please watch this 3 minute clip.