Randa Farsoni, a 34-year-old Jordanian woman living in Irbid, had always dreamed of opening a beauty salon. Driven by her passion for women’s hairstyling and skincare, she envisioned her own business not only as a way to pursue her passion but also to gain financial independence for herself and her son, as Randa is separated from her husband. However, the financial resources to get started were out of reach. She often wondered, “Will I ever have a salon?”

In 2022, a friend of Randa’s invited her to visit the NEF Siraj Center, where her friend was applying for support to launch her own business. The friend told Randa about the training programs and financial resources available for entrepreneurs starting small businesses and encouraged Randa to apply so she could finally realize her dream of owning a salon. At the time, Randa wasn’t optimistic. Financial struggles had her feeling stuck, and her finances were so limited that she couldn’t afford transportation and had to walk to the Siraj Center.

Unexpectedly, Randa’s situation began to change. A short time later, she was contacted by the NEF Siraj Center and invited to join their entrepreneurship training program. After years of setbacks, Randa finally took the first step toward making her dream a reality.

Through the Refugee Livelihoods Development Impact Bond (DIB), Randa participated in the NEF Siraj Center’s training and was awarded a grant of 600 JOD (around $846). She used this funding to open Rand Ladies Salon, a beauty salon offering high-quality services to women in her local community.

“My joy was indescribable,” Randa reflects. “I took a screenshot of the grant amount and still keep it to this day.”