In the words of Somia Saad: I am now dreaming big, and I have my eyes set on opening my very own beauty salon

As depression clouded her world, Somia Saad, 37, found a spark of joy rekindled by her lifelong passion for beauty care. After completing her commerce diploma, Somia had briefly pursued her love for the beauty industry by working in several salons. However, after getting married and giving birth to two kids, Somia opted to leave the world of beauty care behind and prioritize her family. With mounting responsibilities and life challenges, Somia soon found herself facing depression. She would only feel joy as she picked up her powder brush and swirled it against her cheekbones or lined her eyes with mascara. Recognizing her passion as a powerful therapy to improve her mental health, Somia decided to take a leap of faith and enrolled in UN Women’s beauty care training.

“Life felt overwhelming; the crushing weight of responsibilities and the never-ending cycle of caring for my two children pushed me into a suffocating depression. I retreated from the world and would spend most of my days locked in my room, curled up in bed, and shut off from the world around me. I had no friends, no social life, and no aspirations. Even the simple act of dreaming for the future felt impossible. It was in this darkness that I sought therapy. There, a beacon of hope emerged. The therapist suggested I reconnect with something I love; something that could reignite the spark within me.

My heart immediately tugged me towards beauty care, the thing I'd always loved. It was the only job that ever made me feel truly happy, until I had to quit to raise my young children. But the beauty industry is fast paced, always moving forward. To jump back in, I needed professional training to sharpen my skills again. Then, like a lucky sign, I came across UN women’s beauty care training. It felt like fate stepped in, offering exactly what I needed to light my passion back up.

The training was not just a basic review, it was a deep dive into the proper techniques and skills I needed to be a real professional in the field. Although I had worked in four different beauty salons before, I never received proper training and relied on my own experience and online tutorials. Thankfully, the UN Women training was not only theoretical, but a hands-on journey into the world of beauty care.

I had a dedicated trainer who gave me clear instructions and feedback to help me truly develop my skills as if I was a beginner. I came to realize that my previous hair styling struggles were all due to improper training. I have now mastered advanced tools, tricks, and techniques to create flawless hair looks. I practiced different hairdos on wigs which sharpened my skills too. To my surprise, the training didn’t only focus on hair care, but it delved deep into the magical world of skincare and makeup artistry. All these new skills were a true motivation for me to start working with clients confidently – helping them shine their inner radiance.

Now, brimming with confidence in my newfound beauty skills, I feel equipped to handle everything from hairstyling and skincare to flawless nail care and more. This helped kickstart my career in the beauty industry once again, this time armed with my professional skills. After completing the training, I managed to land a full-time job at the same beauty salon that I got my internship at through the UN Women programme, a perfect opportunity for me to continue growing.

I am now dreaming big, and I have my eyes set on opening my very own salon. While I continue my learning journey, I am slowly building up my dream and saving every penny I earn to buy the needed equipment to open my own place. Thankfully, I was able to buy a few blow dryers and curling irons, and bit by bit I’ll have all the equipment needed. The training even gave me a head start with a fully loaded makeup bag, an incredible support that fuels my excitement even more!

Now, with a steady income flowing in, I feel a deep sense of accomplishment and financial freedom. It's empowering to draw my own path and chase my dreams through hard work. I am especially grateful that I am now able to support myself and even help my husband care for our family’s needs. This newfound independence is truly a dream come true.

This journey was a revelation – one where I found my true self. Now my days are filled with purpose, fueled by aspirations and a clear goal I am working towards. Stepping into the salon each day ignites a spark of joy in me and I feel pure pride and happiness when I see a smile on a client's face after I give them a gorgeous makeover or a stunning hairdo.

The training was not just about skills – it brought me together with a group of incredible women who have become my closest friends. For the first time, I have a vibrant social group that fills my life with laughter and happiness. The positive impact on my mental health has been undeniable – I feel stronger and happier than ever before! This newfound confidence and sense of belonging are truly priceless treasures.

Somia was one of the participants of the technical trainings organized under “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Egypt” programme, which aims to economically empower women through access to capacity development and decent employment opportunities. To achieve this goal, the programme provided technical training for female entrepreneurs and job seekers on different professions, such as mobile repair, handmade leather products, accessories making, catering, fashion designs (sewing), and beauty care.

This programme is implemented by UN Women Egypt in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the National Council for Women (NCW), with the generous support of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The training that Somia attended was provided by Qodra for Development and Technological Solutions for Education.