What began as a market research for a business venture helped Rehab Ahmed Qasim realise her potential to create interactive space for children and their mothers to engage in edutainment activities. A portmanteau of the words ‘education’ and ‘entertainment’, edutainment was still a new idea in this part of the world; but it didn’t remain one under the expertise of Rehab, who soon worked around the idea of a skills development centre under the banner of ‘Space’.
Explaining about the inception of ‘Space’, she states, “I always heard people, especially mothers, complain about the lack of edutainment activities in Muscat, and that triggered something in me. I initiated a market research and the results showed an overwhelming interest from children as well as women. And so I decided to open a skills development centre for women and kids, to basically help them explore their potential and develop their talents. Our workshops are diverse and are both interactive and fun…”
As a TEDx speaker with expertise in motivational speeches and presentations, Rehab brought to her venture her vast experience in the field of telecom, marketing, project management, and the like. According to her, what is essential to initiate a business venture in Oman is a “thorough understanding of the market, coupled with the knowledge of starting up a business as well as testing the market.”
So what were the challenges she faced and how did she overcome them?
“The challenges at the beginning of the journey, which I believe is what most business ventures face at the start, include finances and lack or resources, among others…which, of course, can be overcome with experience and time. However, the biggest challenge hit us after five years when the concerned ministry decided to cancel the ‘Skills Development License’ that we operate under. This remains a big challenge, and we are yet to figure out a way to overcome it,” she laments.
Nevertheless, she is of the firm opinion that the youth in the country should nurse ambitions of climbing the entrepreneurial ladder. Pointing out that it is important to inculcate an entrepreneurial spirit among the youth in the country, she adds: “I find new initiatives on daily basis and I think that is very healthy for the economy. I have encountered young potential entrepreneurs who are still students, some still at school, and was amazed at how knowledgeable they are in business, compared to our generation when we were in college. Add to it their enthusiasm in technology and you have got yourself a recipe for success.
“It’s also one of the initiatives we had at Space where we gave very basic business start up workshops for kids as young as 8 years old. We were astonished at their creativity and commitment.”
Her advice for young Omanis seeking a business career:
“It might sound clichéd, but believe in your idea. Don’t do it because someone else told you it was a good idea; you are never too old or too experienced to learn. Stay up to date and don’t stop seeking knowledge; and, it’s okay to start small.”
