Flowers for Mogadishu

When someone is feeling romantic in the Somali capital Mogadishu they can now buy red roses for their loved one.

This is thanks to an adventurous young businesswoman, Sahra Aweys Ahmed, who opened a florists’ shop, Ugud Flowers, after receiving funds from Simad University’s Centre for Innovation and Financing of Small Businesses.

“Most of my customers are couples and young people,” she says. “The majority are women who order special blooms for their friends, relatives and other loved ones.”

Sahra imports the flowers from abroad, mainly Kenya, as none are available in Somalia. Keeping them fresh and bright is a challenge. It has taken Sahra time to learn how to preserve them in the Mogadishu climate.

Sahra says people in Somalia are used to buying fake flowers and there is need for a culture change. She says it’s taking time for her customers to learn how to keep them fresh in their homes.

“They have a limited understanding of real flowers,” she says.

She sees her shop as a learning centre for other young graduates. “Given the scarcity of job opportunities in the country and the large number of unemployed graduates, I do what I can to train people who studied alongside me at Simad University. They come for work experience in my shop.”

Sahra hopes that after gaining experience in her shop, other young people will be inspired to introduce new business ideas in their country.