Trhas runs a business selling ground flax seeds, injera and himbasha (a traditional Ethiopian bread) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Before she was forced to flee from her home country, Trhas farmed and worked as a cook to support her family. “I am a hard-working person. I love people, and people also love me,” Trhas shared when we visited her home. When Trhas met RefugePoint in 2023, she had been working casual jobs in order to support her four children, two nephews, and her elderly mother. “When I came to Nairobi, life was very difficult for me. I tried to survive by washing clothes for other people and doing whatever I could to help my family. I also enrolled my children in government schools. That helped me a little,” Trhas shared.
In 2023, Trhas enrolled in RefugePoint’s Business Development Skills training, where she learned how to start and run a successful business. Having been exposed to the catering business, Trhas chose to continue cooking and selling Ethiopian delicacies as a business. With a grant of $600, Trhas bought a grinder for the flax seeds, as well as a refrigerator and other materials for the injera and himbasha bread.
“I am working hard so I can better my life,” Trhas said. “I am working and trying so hard to be self-reliant, but it is very difficult because I have eight mouths to feed, and I still have to send my children to school,” Trhas shared.
Despite the many challenges she faces, Trhas’ hard work and resilience have given her hope for a better future. She hopes to pursue training as a nursing care assistant. “I am passionate about learning because I didn’t get a proper education growing up. What will make me happy is seeing my children succeed with their education and start their jobs.”
