A recipe for courage, hard work and opportunity

At 23, Nilza Alberto Muehiua turned a baking course into an opportunity to change her life and the livesof other young people. The journey, however, was not simple.

In 2023, unemployed and in search of an opportunity, Nilza enrolled in a baking course offered by SIM! Project. After completing the training, she began producing and selling apas (type of deep-fried flatbread) to be served with curry during Ramadan. What seemed like an ordinary experience ultimately transformed her life.

It was then I discovered my passion for baking and cooking. Because everything sparked my curiosity, I started producing other products such as samosas, rissois (a ball or flattened cake of chopped meat) and biscuits, initially using a small oven, a 20-centimetre baking tin, plastic bowls, a whisk, a spoon and my mother's hand mixer.

Her first steps were marked by limited resources. Without a large enough oven and relying only on basic utensils, it was difficult to meet orders on time and keep up with demand. Nevertheless, Nilza refused to let a lack of resources become a reason to give up. Instead of spending her first profits, she chose to reinvest them in the business. She saved 15,000 meticais and bought a 55-litre oven, two metal cake turntables, piping nozzles, baking tins, and a set of cake smoothers.

With this equipment, I increased my production capacity, diversified my orders, and was able to respond more quickly to customers, including last-minute requests. Later, I focused on homemade and themed cakes, an area in which I specialized and transformed my passion into an art appreciated by my clients.

The effort did not end with this first investment. Although each piece of equipment purchased meant foregoing an immediate gain, it enabled her to increase orders, improve product quality, and grow the business. As production expanded, the initiative evolved into Nilza Sabores/Confeitaria, a company that currently employs two young people and contributes to the local economy.

Starting with what you have and persevering

This growth marked a new chapter in Nilza's journey: SIM! Project selected her to work as a trainer artisan. Over the last two years, this complementary activity enabled her to earn approximately 200,000 meticais, which she reinvested her business. As a result, she strengthened her production capacity, increased operational efficiency, and created a stronger foundation for the enterprise sustainablity.

As well as benefiting myself and my employees, this business allows me to train other people.  I am currently training 12 young people, in addition to the 22 others I have already trained. I share my experience of starting a business with limited resources and growing.

Nilza's journey shows that a lack of resources can make the beginning harder, but it does not have to determine the end of the story. With training, discipline, reinvestment, and perseverance, borrowed utensils and a small-scale operation were transformed into a business capable of generating income, creating jobs and developing new skills within the community.

Don't wait for perfect conditions to get started. Seize opportunities, invest in your skills, and never give up! I started with very limited resources, but thanks to my determination, I built my own business and help other young people do the same."