03 SUNDAY, JULY 15, 2018 big story A true Bahraini hero Abu-Amin sought ways to overcome challenges while many youth merely complain of unemployment and poverty

were my main supporters to begin the Tribune contacted the business, as they encouraged me to fo- • cus on the side business, car washing, area MP Shaikh Majeed Al and make it my main income source,” Asfoor, who promised to Abu-Amin narrated. spare no effort to assist the Abu-Amin initially began washing ambitious Bahraini youth. and polishing cars outside his house. He was soon able to purchase addition- al equipment such as pressure washers The number of followers and imported polishes and body clean- of• Abu-Amin car washing ing materials. services gradually grew on After a few months, a couple of un- social networks reaching employed Bahrainis from Sitra would join him and Abu-Amin shared the over 2,000 within two years. income with them for the services they provide. After a few months, Within the span of two years, he at- a• couple of unemployed tracted ten other jobless youth to work Bahrainis from Sitra would with him, as the number of customers began to grow steadily. join him and Abu-Amin shared He said, “I began utilising social me- the income with them for dia networks to promote my business, the services they provide. especially on Instagram. This promoted our work quickly and we started receiv- TDT |Manama ing customers from all over Bahrain, Muhannad Mansour Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The idea to overcome social obstacles as Bahrainis and defeat unemployment by working n ambitious Bahraini man who in car washing received a nationwide was sacked from his job almost welcoming. We proved that Bahrainis Atwo years ago, successfully are capable of performing any job and transformed the devastating situation positively contribute to the local labour of being unemployed into a positive market and economy.” one by launching his personal project Abu-Amin said he and his colleagues and employing other jobless Bahrainis Abu-Amin and his co-workers pose for a selfie. would split the income received each from his area. day among them, adding that they make Sayed-Amin Hashim, aka Abu-Amin, BD60 a day on an average. told Tribune that he was working as a The number of followers of Abu- customs clearance agent for a private Amin car washing services gradually company for a couple of years. He had grew on social networks reaching over developed his hobby for detailing and 2,000 clients within two years. cleaning cars since a young age. 10 He was recently contacted by Tam- Apart from his job as a clearance unemployed Bahrainis keen (Labour Fund) which pledged to agent, he washed and polished cars were hired by Abu- provide him with the necessary support of relatives, friends and neighbours Amin since he began (financial and logistical) to help his near his house in Marquban village in the project. business improve. the heart of Sitra, charging them trifle But, to receive Tamkeen’s support, he amounts so he could cope with his in- must officially register his business by creasing living expenses. We have proved We are ready to applying for a Commercial Registration However, the man informed that his that Bahrainis help these youth (CR) certificate with the Ministy of In- previous boss wasn’t happy with his car washed cars after my working hours got are capable of as they form the dustry, Commerce and Tourism. washing activities and eventually fired over. My previous boss thought it harms performing any backbone when it “Tamkeen promised to support us him, unknowingly becoming the motive the image of the company. It was a job and positively comes to taking with the equipment, rent and salaries. for Abu-Amin to expand his work and devastating situation as I initially began contributing to the local economy We’ve searched for a proper land in attract more customers from Bahrain washing cars to provide an additional the local economy. forward. Sitra and the surrounding areas, but and fellow GCC countries. income to support my family. After failed to find any suitable one for our “I lost my job back in 2016 because I losing my job, relatives and neighbours ABU-AMIN MR AL ASFOOR project. “I hope the concerned authorities, such as the Jaffaria or Sunni Endow- ments Directorates could help us find a land with sufficient space and rea- sonable price. We aim to expand our work in the future and hire more tal- ented unemployed Bahraini youth,” Abu-Amin said, adding that “the time has come to take the business to the next level”. Help Tribune contacted the area MP Shai- kh Majeed Al Asfoor, who promised to spare no effort to assist the ambi- tious Bahraini youth. A meeting was arranged between Abu-Amin and the MP to discuss his requirements and requests. MP Al Asfoor told Tribune: “We will hear from them and convey their message to the concerned authorities to help them establish their project. We stand with all Bahraini youth and work hard to meet their aspirations. This projects is unique as it targets the unemployed Bahraini youth, who find an interest in taking care of cars. The youth need our support. They are the backbone when it comes to taking the A Bahraini youth making use of his spare time by washing cars at Abu-Amin Carwash. Kingdom’s economy forward.”