For most of her life, Um Ramzi lived under the constant threat of domestic violence. Her world was one of isolation and insecurity. She felt like an outcast in her own home.

Um Ramzi discovered a new reality when an older friend invited her to participate in one of Questscope’s women-led centers in Aqaba, Jordan. Um Ramzi started to participate in the women’s group at the center.  And a Questscope staff member from the local neighborhood began a mentoring relationship with her. This commitment changed Um Ramzi’s life.

At the center, Um Ramzi also took a course on business management for entrepreneurs and took out a small loan (less than $300) from a credit fund, managed by other women at the center, to start up a small grocery shop in an unused garage.

After successfully paying back the first loan, she took out a second loan for $700, to increase the inventory of her business.  She paid back the second loan and will take a third, for $1,400, to grow her inventory even more to meet continually increasing customer demands.

Once unable to even leave her home because of fear, Um Ramizi has increased her family income by 400% and now pays the school fees for her children. The relationships with the men in her life have also been transformed. She employs her brother. Her husband has observed that she can run a business while managing the household. Now they both treat her with respect and dignity.

Questscope’s offering girls and women supportive relationships and providing tools for success—like a basic education, business training, and access to capital—unleashes their potential, improves quality of life for them and their families, and produces other positive effects in their communities.

Since beginning our Women-Led Initiatives in 2005, Questscope has witnessed incredible changes in the lives of women. In the past year alone, 28 female entrepreneurs were trained to teach business skills and administer micro-loans to other women and 64 new businesses were launched.

Hundreds of girls and women across Jordan have benefited. Like Um Ramzi, these women are moving from isolation to influence.