BY CHRIS ALEX
IN the urban neighbourhood of Naha 1, east Honiara, Jaylyn Mae Ama, a single mother of one, shares her inspiring journey of entrepreneurship.
With her talented hands in handicraft making and sewing. Jaylyn, 23, from East Kwarae, Malaita Province, reflects on the challenges and accomplishments she faced while starting up her small clothing business, ‘Double Jay Trading.’.
A year ago, Jaylyn found herself more determined to provide a better life for her child, but her journey toward entrepreneurship wasn’t an easy one.
She began with the support and mentorship of her aunt, Betty Akao. Together, they worked at an Art Gallery in Honiara, where Jaylyn absorbed critical lessons on business management and customer service. Her aunt saw potential in her from the beginning, encouraging her to step out on her own and make something for herself.
“My aunty advised me I should create something my own and move on to make my own profit,” Mae Ama recalls. With her aunt’s guidance and the skills she had learnt at the Art Gallery, Jaylyn decided to take a leap of faith, launching “Double Jay Trading,” her own small clothing business in the heart of her community in Naha 1.
Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship was no easy feat. Her business was built on the foundation of hard work and a passion for creating something of her own. Despite limited resources and knowledge, Jaylyn remained dedicated, learning from every sale and every interaction with customers.
“I started small, but I have big dreams. I initially began by selling clothes, local handcrafted bangles, and necklaces to my neighbours in Naha 1 and at the Art Gallery in Honiara.
“The early days were filled with challenges, but my determination to succeed kept me going,” she told Somon Women.
2024 marked a major turning point for Jaylyn and her business. She became part of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) recently launched in Honiara, a global program designed to empower women with the knowledge, networks, and resources to start and scale their businesses. For Jaylyn, this was a transformative experience.
“The joining of AWE really opened my mind, and it helped me a lot to move into another stage of doing business,” she reflects.
Through AWE, Jaylyn was introduced to new business strategies, mentorship, and a network of like-minded women entrepreneurs. The program equipped her with the tools to not only sustain but also grow her business, offering her a clearer understanding of how to operate a successful and sustainable enterprise.
With the knowledge and confidence she gained from AWE, she is now focused on creating a long-term plan for her business.
“In the long run, I dream to become successful in business, but it comes with hard work, commitment, and dedication,” she says.
Jaylyn vision goes beyond individual success; she wants to inspire other young women to follow in her footsteps. For young women aspiring to break into the business world, Jaylyn is proof that even with humble beginnings, success is possible.
