Rebeka Islam – The Journey of a Resilient Entrepreneur

Rebeka Islam, a skilled and determined woman from Gazipur, Dhaka, is the proud owner of Rafa Embroidery, a small home-based enterprise that has grown into a promising digital boutique through her perseverance and vision.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2021, when she became involved with the CSR Project of Backspace International Limited, an initiative aimed at empowering women through digital skills and entrepreneurship development. During that time, Mr. Alif Al Haider, the Founder of Startup Aid, was leading the CSR project at Backspace. Working closely with women like Rebeka, he witnessed how creative skills could be transformed into income-generating ventures. This project later became the very inspiration behind the founding of Startup Aid, a platform dedicated to nurturing grassroots entrepreneurs across Bangladesh.

Before joining the CSR program, Rebeka depended solely on her embroidery skills, selling handmade items to neighbors and relatives in her local community. Despite her talent, she lacked the resources and business knowledge to scale her craft. Through the Backspace initiative, she received hands-on training in digital marketing, photography, business management, and online selling techniques, skills that helped her reimagine her embroidery as a brand.

Encouraged by the program mentors, Rebeka officially launched her online boutique under the name “Rafa Embroidery.” Her handcrafted sarees, kameez sets, and intricate embroidery designs quickly caught the attention of customers through social media platforms.

Today, Rafa Embroidery stands as a growing online brand that not only supports Rebeka’s family but also inspires other women in her community. She has already trained two young women in her neighborhood, passing on the skills and confidence she once gained from the CSR initiative.

Rebeka’s story is a testament to how purposeful social programs can ignite lasting change. What began as a CSR project under Backspace International, guided by Alif Al Haider, evolved into the foundation for Startup Aid, a social initiative that continues to empower individuals like Rebeka to dream, build, and transform their futures.