by Kidpreneurs 02 Mar 2020

We love hearing from Kidpreneurs from the U.S., Canada, and all over the world! So we were thrilled when 10-year-old Ifrata Liaquat, an amazing Kidpreneur from Pakistan, agreed to tell us about her entrepreneurial journey and being a Kidpreneur growing up in Pakistan. In the video below, Ifrata has a lot to say about the Kidpreneur life she’s living. Check it out, and read the transcript below the video to dive deeper.

Video Transcript:

Ifrata Liaqat:
Hello everyone and thank you so much, Kidpreneurs team, for giving me this opportunity that I can share about my work with all of you.

Interviewer:
First tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and experience. And who or what inspired you to pursue your idea?

Ifrata Liaqat:
My name is Ifrata Liaqat. I’m 10 years old. I live in Lahore, Pakistan. I’m in fifth grade in Sacred Heart Convent School. The name of our social enterprise is Courage handmade jewelry by A.Ifrata . I work with my mother and one of my aunts.

One day, my mother and I were sitting and there were paper clips lying near me. I made a necklace for my mom out of it. My mom was so happy and she said, “Why don’t you use your spare time making jewelry?” and I started saving my pocket money and my mother brought some raw material. Some beads and some fish wire that I use, the clasp, the hooks, the locks. The clasp, the hooks and everything, she brought for me and we started our jewelry business.

Interviewer:
What was the first business you chose to pursue and what process did you go through to start it? What did your family and friends think?

Ifrata Liaqat:
This was the first business that we started and my family and friends were very happy. Everyone here gets very surprised when they listen that I’m 10 years old and I’ve started my own handmade jewelry business, as in Pakistan it is very rare that small children start their own business.

Interviewer:
What obstacles and challenges did you face as you began to learn the ins and outs of entrepreneurship?

Ifrata Liaqat:
Well, the foremost challenge that we face is the capital funding for a new business. As my company is in its initial phase, we don’t have any outlet and we need the funding to buy the raw material. As of the moment, we are selling the products to our family and friends and on the stalls.

Interviewer:
How did you celebrate your milestone and success?

Ifrata Liaqat:
My company has just started and I have received appreciation and encouragement from everyone who hears about my jewelry work. Harnessing the idea in Pakistan of entrepreneurship should be encouraged from a young age.

Interviewer:
What kind of feedback do you have from your customers and how does this make you feel?

Ifrata Liaqat:
I constantly get positive feedback and encouraging comments from the customers. I feel so happy that my work is being acknowledged. I get motivated to do even better work for the customers.

Interviewer:
Can you tell us about one of your proudest moments as a kidpreneur?

Ifrata Liaqat:
Proudest moment was when I participated at Forman Christian College Entrepreneurial Fiesta 2019 among other established brands. I presented a souvenir to Colonel Hashim Dogar, Minister of Population Planning of Pakistan. I felt overwhelmed.

Interviewer:
What advice would you like to give to a young person who has a kidpreneur spark and wants to start their own business?

Ifrata Liaqat:
First advice that I want to give to kidpreneurs is that entrepreneurship needs perseverance and courage. The second advice is that, keep believing in your abilities. The third piece of advice is to focus on your studies first. Keep your studies your first priority and lastly, I want to say that, start saving your pocket money so that you don’t put burden on your parents.

Interviewer:
What two words describe your work ethics?

Ifrata Liaqat:
My work ethics describe quality products, customer satisfaction and teamwork.

Interviewer:
Who is another Kidpreneur that you admire?

Ifrata Liaqat:
Another kidpreneur that I admire is also a 10 year old Pakistani girl Zimmal Omar. She makes handbags and works for the environment. Her work name is ZBags.

Interviewer:
What’s next for you in terms of your goals, products and bucket list?

Ifrata Liaqat:
My short term goal is to open my own Courage Handmade Jewelry outlet. My long term goal is to keep women products in it like handmade bags, pouches for school and college girls, jute bags for you to later use.

Last but not least, the social cause of my brand is to help underprivileged children of my age. To feed and clothe them from the proceeds off of my products.

Okay, bye bye Kidpreneur team and thank you so much. Be courageous every day.