In Upper Egypt, where nearly 80% of the country’s poorest families live, women face some of the most severe barriers to economic opportunity. With 70% unemployed, many rely on informal, low‑paid work that offers no stability or protection. Handicraft production is one of the few culturally accepted ways for women to earn income, yet most lack the training, market access, and support needed to turn their skills into a sustainable livelihood.

Magda was one of them. Skilled in crochet and beadwork, she worked tirelessly yet earned only survival‑level income—until the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) provided the training, mentoring, and small financing she needed to transform her craft into a thriving microenterprise.