Nyima grew from skilled tailor to inspiring entrepreneur

Nyima Kanteh completed her training as a tailor in 2009 and continued developing her skills through an apprenticeship. Living and working in a remote part of The Gambia’s West Coast Region, she was determined to move away from dependency and build an independent life.

A turning point came when Nyima participated in Buzz Women’s Fangdema training. She was part of the first group of women in the Foni districts of The Gambia to take part in the program. During two half-day sessions, she learned an important lesson about managing money and growing a business:

“From your profit, you can save some and spend some on your needs, but you can never touch your capital if you want to keep the business growing.”

Today, Nyima owns two tailoring shops and an outlet selling sewing accessories in the market of Bwiam. She has developed from a trained tailor into an independent entrepreneur and a leader in her village.

Nyima’s achievements extend beyond her own businesses. She teaches other young women how to sew and mentors them as they work toward their own success. In this way, she shares the skills and knowledge she has gained with others in her community.

Her journey shows what can happen when practical skills are combined with financial knowledge. The lesson Nyima learned during the Fangdema training remains central to her story: save part of the profit, use part for your needs and protect the capital that keeps the business going.