Entrepreneurship in Hebron Feature: Asma Basal Founder of Tunjartak Al Nar
With an unemployment rate at a staggering 24 percent in the latest quarter of 2019, opportunities for thousands of young Palestinians in the densely populated city of Hebron are hard to come by. Despite this, a generation of self-starters is slowly on the rise, working to not only improve their economic outlook but to transform the unemployment landscape in the city and create a more equitable future for all. Upon graduating from Hebron’s Polytechnic University, Asma Basal, an enterprising young Palestinian, was ready to step up and make a name for herself in the city's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Yet, for Basal, graduating from one of Hebron’s leading universities didn’t guarantee her a job in a tenuous local economy. “Like any other graduate after I completed my degree, I began looking for work, and again like any other graduate, I was faced with the reality that there just weren’t enough jobs to meet demand,” Basal Says. “However, I did not give up, and I decided to start a project that would help me secure my economic well-being while contributing to the greater good in my local community by creating opportunities for many out of work women.”
Basal soon began exploring her entrepreneurial prospects by identifying several problems that exist in Hebron’s local markets, and subsequently sustainable as well as impactful ways to address them. However, it was during Basal's participation as a committee member during the annual Earth Day event at her alma mater that inspired her to pursue the startup idea that would soon become Tunjartak Al Nar (Your Meal is on the Way). “During this event, there were stands for folkloric handicrafts as well as traditional Palestinian foods. I noticed the long lines at the food stands and wasn’t surprised, so I approached one of the owners and learned that apart from local events, sales were surprisingly low because of the lack of communication and coordinated approach by vendors,” says Basal.
During this time, Basal was working on her startup idea. Unfortunately, without the proper support and professional guidance, progress remained slow. Soon after, Basal seized upon the ideal opportunity to present her project in the game-changing entrepreneurial competition, ActionAid International, where she was able to work with global innovators to finalize her concept and develop strategies for successful implementation. Basal then joined MENACatalyst’s latest entrepreneurial project funded by the GIZ, offering self-starters in Hebron the opportunity to access essential business and financial development support services, in addition to an array of individually tailored mentorship sessions. During this program, Basal further refined her startup, connected with transformational business enablers and experts, and is working to launch a crowdfunding campaign with the support of MENACatalyst expansive network of stakeholders and industry partners from around the world.
Tunjartak Al Nar (Your Meal is on the Way) has since become one of Hebron’s premier food delivery platforms specialized in traditional Palestinian cuisines. “Tunjartak Al Nar combines my love for traditional yet healthy Palestinian dishes, and a sense of responsibility I feel for out of work women in my home town of Hebron,” says Basal. “What sets us apart is our sense of community responsibility. We work exclusively with unemployed women because we want to help them secure alternative sources of income and avoid falling into poverty, which is fast becoming the new norm in Hebron, especially after COVID-19. We are available on Facebook, and our dedicated mobile application is currently in development,” she adds.
Ultimately, Basal exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that is fast becoming a growing trend among many disenfranchised young Palestinians. Entrepreneurship has allowed Basel to explore her economic potential, but beyond this, to create a space were out of work, women can overcome poverty and help support their families.
To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook.com/applicationfood