Sitting at her desk, Noor Ahmed carefully crafts various pieces of jewelry. Her room transforms into a workshop where she intricately weaves wires and beads into stunning necklaces and earrings. So far, she has sold to around 45 customers and donates 50% of her profits to Ene Elna Elak, a GoFundMe campaign focused on providing clean water and food to people in Gaza.

Ahmed started making jewelry in 2024, drawing inspiration from a friend. She taught herself through online tutorials and independent practice. Each piece of jewelry sold is handcrafted, and Ahmed makes each completely customizable. She focuses on two main types of jewelry — beaded and chained — each requiring different steps for creation and time commitments.

“I really enjoy making chain jewelry,” Ahmed said. “It’s challenging  because it takes three to four hours, but I love the process.”

Soon after learning how to create jewelry, Ahmed started her own business in 2024, creating an account on Depop to sell online. She used social media to promote her business, reaching friends, local peers and online customers, which helped her business grow.

“I knew that Noor had a jewelry-making background, and when I found out about her business, I purchased a necklace,” freshman and customer Wendi Sun said. “All of her products are incredibly good.”

Though most of Ahmed’s works are custom orders, she describes her overall style as nature-based. She often includes flower charms and incorporates earth colors into her work.

“I cater my styles to what the customer wants,” Ahmed said. “If I’m given a reference, I can make any jewelry.”

In addition to expressing her creativity, Ahmed’s jewelry business allows her to support a cause she deeply believes in. Since the beginning of her business, she has made around $300 in sales, half of which she has donated to Ene Elna Elak.

“I was really upset with what was going on in Palestine, and I thought there was something that needed to be done about it,” Ahmed said. “Since a lot of people like jewelry, I thought this was a good way to be more vocal about this particular topic.”

Many organizations provide humanitarian aid in Gaza, but Ahmed was particularly drawn to Ene Elna Elak. This campaign donates directly to people in Gaza, ensuring resources are delivered more efficiently compared to larger organizations like the Red Cross, which can face challenges in delivering supplies.

“I feel like it is more beneficial to donate directly to people in Gaza because aid can get destroyed easily,” Ahmed said. “The GoFundMe was started by actual people in Gaza.”

With the business’s success, Ahmed often must find ways to juggle schoolwork while keeping up with orders. Though the task may seem daunting at times, Ahmed manages her work using spreadsheets, setting deadlines for herself and keeping track of business inputs and outputs.

In the future, Ahmed plans to expand her business by selling at craft fairs and boosting her social media presence to attract a broader customer base. In addition, she hopes for the opportunity to donate to more organizations and causes as she finds her footing as a small business owner.

This story was originally published on The Epic on February 3, 2025.