LocationsAshjan’s camel-powered sesame oil press innovates in Yemen
May 13, 2025
Ashjan carefully prepares raw sesame seeds in her mill, ready to be pressed into high-quality sesame oil. Through her business, she has gained financial independence and can now provide for her children in her area.
Careers for women in Yemen typically involve sewing, cooking, or making sweets. Ashjan chose a different path. She dared to venture into an unconventional business—sesame oil extraction—a craft deeply rooted in Yemeni culture.
At just 23 years old, Ashjan is a mother of three. Like many families in her community, she and her husband struggled with financial instability. With no stable source of income, her husband took on temporary jobs. Determined to change their situation, Ashjan came up with an idea: a traditional sesame oil press powered by camel.
Participating in the ERRY III Joint Programme
Ashjan’s business idea came when she joined the Rural Resilience Programme (ERRY JP III), a Joint Programme funded by the European Union and Government of Sweden. She was among 3,000 individuals trained in starting small businesses and provided with grants to launch their projects.
“When I heard about the programme supporting women’s businesses, I knew this was my chance,” Ashjan recalls. “I wanted to prove that women can work and succeed just like men.”
The road was not easy. Some people in the community questioned her decision. But Ashjan refused to be discouraged. She had a vision, and she was determined to make it happen.
From an idea to a thriving business
With the support she received, Ashjan turned her idea into reality. She established her sesame oil press, using a camel to rotate the mill and extract high-quality sesame oil. What started as an effort to support her family soon became a successful business, providing a stable income and transforming their lives.
“My husband is no longer unemployed; instead, he became my business partner,” Ashjan shares with pride. “Together, we built something that secures our family’s future.”
Beyond financial stability, Ashjan discovered something even more powerful—a sense of independence and purpose.
Ashjan’s husband, pours raw sesame into the mill for pressing. The traditional sesame oil extraction process, powered by a camel, has become a source of livelihood for their family.
“Some people were surprised to see a woman running a sesame oil press,” Ashjan admits. “But I proved to them that women can succeed in any field they choose.”
Ashjan now dreams of expanding her business and hiring other women in her village, believing that every woman deserves the chance to achieve her potential.
A message to women in rural Yemen
“Nothing is impossible! Women can work, contribute to their families, and prove they have the power to create change. Economic empowerment is the key to a better future for us and our children,” shares Ashjan.
Ashjan encourages women to step out of their comfort zones and believe in their abilities.
Ashjan pours freshly extracted sesame oil into a container, ensuring quality for her customers. She has built a loyal customer base by selling her products.
Looking to the future
Ashjan plans to expand her oil press and create more job opportunities for women in her village. She wants to empower other women to step into entrepreneurship and build better lives for themselves and their families.
“In the past, I felt helpless when I needed something but didn’t have the money to buy it. Today, I am proud that I can provide for my children without asking for help from anyone,” says Ashjan.
Ashjan is not just pressing sesame oil—she is pressing forward and inspiring a new generation of young women in Yemen.
Working side by side, Ashjan and her husband operate the sesame oil mill.
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