Refugee Owned Businesses Enrich Our Community

The Micro Enterprise Program took part in festivities as part of the Tucson Meet Yourself Festival (TMYS). This is a folkloric event that shares knowledge of diverse skilled and talented individuals, including several refugee owned businesses supported by our Micro Enterprise program.

TMYS Festival highlights many aspects of hand crafts and art work from various cultures. Dozens of small vendors and entrepreneurs exhibited their extraordinary arts and businesses such as low rider cars, Ukrainian Easter Egg Makers, Japanese Calligraphy, African accessories and clothing, Turkish Iznik ceramic paintings and samples of a multitude of foods. Through this vibrant market event, the community gets to learn and exchange information about ethnic goods and how they fit into other cultures. It’s also an occasion to share special stories about other cultures and traditions.

The Micro Enterprise program assisted clients to register for the event, price their goods and sell their items. Throughout the two days, artist and vendors marketed their businesses using different promotional strategies such as business cards, flyers, and other hand-outs to potential customers. Clients like to participate in such events and they believe this is an opportunity for them to celebrate and get to know other related existing cultures too. TMYS is a living educational experience which opens windows onto all the different cultures that coexist in the valley.

That’s why IRC’s Microenterprise program is invited, every year, to introduce business from all over the world and to share their unique art and handwork.
Three businesses based in Tucson and Phoenix participated in this event. Microenterprise clients presented their arts and crafts from different cultures including: Turkish Ceramic Art, Congo and Nigerian tailoring and styling, and various special African accessories from Liberia.

Businesses that participated:

Morad Ceramic
This is special Iznik pottery, colored in turquoise combined with blue and pastel shades of sage green and pale purple. The paints are applied on different pottery ceramic bowl, plates and others.  Morad is a known artist who learned the skill from his father, and now both are working together. In this event his father, Mr. Jasim, presented various ceramic styles and plates. Many visitors inquired about using Iznik paint on ceramic plates and bowls. Visitors were very impressed by the display
and many purchased gifts for their families.

Beck’s African Accessories
Rebecca is hair dresser and entrepreneur. She sells various types of African accessories that attract many visitors who are looking for a special type of accessories. Many visitors stopped to buy gifts for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rebecca was very happy to Participate, for the third year, in this folk festival. 

 
Paradise Fashion Design

Teddy is originally from the Republic of Congo. He designs and tailors African dress for men and women. Many visitors asked questions about the style and the fabric of his African clothing.

Chalotte Nsabak
A tailor from Africa’s Republic of Congo, Chalotte demonstrated her African tailoring styles and introduced specialized African fabrics to visitors.

For more information about the Micro Enterprise Program and the businesses discussed above, please contact Yasmin Badri at Yasmin.Badri@Rescue.org.

Article written by: Yasmin Badri