In one of the marketing exhibition corners for the products of Women's Economic Empowerment Project's beneficiaries, organized by Tamdeen Youth Foundation in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Aden in February 2023, visitors came to buy "Zain Scents", a unique collection of 20 varieties of the best and finest types of incense and essential oils designed by Zain Abdulhameed Mohammed, 32, from which she made her the success story and creativity.

A success story in the time of the war that raged in Yemen in 2015, and severely damaged Zain and her family. The shells of the conflicting parties destroyed her home in the Al Mualla neighborhood in Aden, forcing her and her husband and their three children to flee and take temporary residence in a school. 

In 2016, Zain Abdulhameed suffered from a chronic disease "Brain Epilepsy". Her husband lost a public transport bus that was a source of livelihood for the family. And as the armed conflict continued and the economic situation collapsed, job opportunities were shrunk, and the family faced significant difficulties and challenges in providing a living and in continuing children's school attendance, but Zain did not give up. She thought about trying incense and perfume industry, which she was passionate about since childhood. 

She started making incense and perfumes at home but failed despite her repeated attempts due to poor experience, lack of knowledge of how to manage her project, calculate the cost of production, and determine the right price for the product, which made her stop more than once. 

At the beginning of 2022, Zain Abdulhameed was selected as one of the targets of the (Women's Economic Empowerment Project in Aden), which was implemented by Tamdeen Youth Foundation (TYF), in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and with funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

With her colleagues, Zain received training programs from the project team in life and professional skills, entrepreneurship and financial education. She also learned how to prepare a feasibility study to establish her own business, as well as how to prepare business plans "budgets, reports, analysis, marketing, and buying and selling strategies commensurate with the size and growth of the project."

After completing the training programs, Zain received the tools and assets for the production and manufacture of incense and perfumes to start establishing her own project and participate in the marketing exhibition (bazaar) organized by the project team, who allocated a corner to present her brand "Zain Scents", bearing her name, her success story, the quality of her products, and the scent of her uniqueness and distinction. 

"Thanks to the support of the project. I have become a productive woman. I can now provide income for me and my family... My Life Has Changed for the Better." Zain Abdulhameed says hopefully.

"In a short period of time, I was very successful. The demand for my own products of incense and perfumes increased... I am thinking of expanding my project due to the training and knowledge I have received and after my products have become a brand with a special meaning." She confirms

Zain is one of the project's success stories. The project enabled 52 women to establish their own projects in (Sewing, Pastry and Confectionery Industry, Hairdresser and Beauty, Incense and Perfume Industry, Accessories Industry, Wedding and Event Coordination, Photography, Graphic, Phone Programming).

Tamdeen Youth Foundation and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) are therefore working together to build the skills of Yemeni women to join the workforce and establish their own businesses. They believe that women's empowerment is critical to stability, early recovery, and sustainable development.