In the dry, dusty city of Quiha in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, a young girl with big eyes and a bigger dream would walk miles to school with worn-out shoes and a hunger in her belly, but never in her spirit. Her name was Fana, meaning “light” in Tigrinya, a name given to her by a mother who believed that despite their poverty, her daughter would one day shine bright enough to guide others. That name was not just a hope. It was a prophecy.
Fana Haregot grew up in the arms of women who bore the weight of survival with grace. Her mother, a single parent, never stopped believing in the power of education. “She gave everything to send me to school,” Fana says. “She believed education was our only way out.” And it was. Fana not only made it through school, she excelled, eventually graduating with honors in chemical engineering from Mekelle University. “That name became my purpose,” she says. “My education gave me the tools to turn my mother’s dream into action, using science and determination to create a better future.”
From that quiet promise in a small Tigrayan home, a trailblazing entrepreneur was born.
A Company Born from Pain and Purpose
Fana’s motivation to start her company didn’t come from market trends or investor pitches, it came from watching her younger brother get sick from preventable hygiene-related illnesses. “Hygiene products like liquid detergents or soaps were a luxury we couldn’t afford,” she recalls. “The doctors told us it was preventable, caused by poor hygiene, but the truth was, we couldn’t buy what we needed.”
That pain remained etched in her memory long after she earned her degree. Instead of chasing a comfortable career abroad or in the capital, she returned to Mekelle to build something rooted in justice. “I founded Fana Chemicals Manufacturing to make hygiene materials affordable for all, because hygiene isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
Based in Mekelle, Fana Chemicals now produces high-quality, accessible soaps and detergents. The company employs 30 people, 75% of them women. “I’m proud to build a team that reflects the strength I grew up admiring,” Fana says.
Innovation in Adversity
Entrepreneurship is never easy, but Fana’s journey was shaped by a storm that few could survive. When war broke out in Tigray, her business came to a standstill. “For two years, Fana Chemicals came to a complete standstill. Our equipment was destroyed, production stopped, and there was no revenue, just uncertainty and fear,” she says.
Many would have walked away. Fana dug deeper. “Giving up wasn’t an option,” she says. “When the situation stabilized, I poured everything into rebuilding, securing financing, restoring our supply chain, and reconnecting with customers.” This experience changed her. “That experience taught me resilience isn’t just about enduring; it’s about rising again.”
She didn’t just rebuild a business, she resurrected a mission. She adapted to a transformed landscape, one now shaped by sustainability, digital transformation, and a growing demand for purpose-driven brands. “To stay ahead, I invest in continuous learning through global entrepreneurship programs like YALI, keep up with industry trends, and embrace digital marketing and e-commerce,” she says. “It’s about staying curious and flexible, adapting to change while holding firm to our mission.”
Triumphs That Go Beyond Business
Fana’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Within a year and a half of launching production, she paid off her 300,000 birr startup loan in full. In 2020, she was named the Best Female Entrepreneur of the Year in her region. “It was for my resilience and dedication to empowering young women,” she says proudly.
But what speaks even louder than awards is impact. One of Fana Chemicals’ proudest initiatives is a refill station program that allows customers to bring empty containers and refill them at a lower cost. “It reduces plastic waste and makes hygiene even more affordable,” she says. “The response has been incredible.”
Even more impressive is how her business has become a tool for rebuilding community. “We’re employing and training women and youth in Tigray, creating stable jobs to rebuild our community post-war.”
A Leader for Her People
While Fana Chemicals remains her core mission, Fana’s influence stretches far beyond her factory walls. She mentors young entrepreneurs through programs like ImpactHER and YALI and partners with institutions such as Mekelle University and the Mekelle American Corner. “I work to equip youth with entrepreneurship skills, helping them turn their dreams into reality,” she says.
One cause particularly close to her heart is WASH, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, especially in healthcare centers in conflict-affected areas. “Cleanliness is a fundamental right,” she says, “and I’m working to expand Fana Chemicals’ impact by providing sanitation solutions to these institutions, bringing light to places that need it most.”
She’s also looking to the future. “We’re currently working on expanding our WASH initiatives, partnering with healthcare centers in Tigray to provide affordable sanitation products. It’s still in the early stages, but I’m eager to see it grow and bring cleaner, safer environments to communities recovering from conflict.”
Dream Big, Start Small
For Fana, the road has been long, hard, and filled with obstacles, but also rich with lessons. When asked what advice she’d give to other entrepreneurs starting out with limited resources, she doesn’t hesitate: “Start where you stand, but dream big.”
She continues: “Focus on solving a real problem, like I did with hygiene access, use local networks for support, and lean into your creativity. I built Fana Chemicals with a small loan and a big vision, and it taught me that resourcefulness can outshine resources. Don’t wait for perfect conditions; take what you have, learn as you go, and trust that persistence will open doors.”
Light That Refuses to Go Out
In reflecting on her journey, Fana returns again to the lesson her life has taught her: resilience. “The most significant lesson I’ve learned is that resilience is a choice you make every day,” she says. “The war in Tigray tested me beyond imagination, but rebuilding Fana Chemicals showed me that setbacks don’t define you—your response does.”
She leads with humility, but also with unwavering belief. “I lead with my mother’s belief in me, that I’m a light for others and it drives me to build a business that doesn’t just succeed, but uplifts.”
In Quiha, they named her Fana. Today, she is living up to that name in every way, illuminating paths, igniting hope, and refusing to let darkness win.
