"The story of Memore Sente, an entrepreneur from Chimoio who turned crisis into success."

Originally from Manica and raised in Messica, Memore Sente told the newspaper Preto e Branco that she moved to Chimoio at the age of 15, where she lived with a cousin who was married to an Italian. She attended secondary school at Samora Machel and Eduardo Mondlane schools. "I got married at 22," she recalls, "already a mother of one, it was while attending the 12th grade that my life took a new turn." After training as a hairdresser in Zimbabwe, Memore Sente began her first hairdressing career working with her cousin and later opened her own salon, which she ran for 15 years. Her routine was interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak. "I was forced to close the salon because of the pandemic," she says.

It was during this time of uncertainty that inspiration knocked on my door. A German neighbor, who owned a hotel, had closed its doors. "I looked at the work he was doing and thought, 'Why can't I do that?'" Determined, Memore chose to reopen the business. Despite buying the German's business, the plans didn't move forward. Initially, she only received local people or those on work assignments. "I started during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it wasn't easy. The borders were closed," she recalls.

That's when, with my son's help, I decided to use social media to promote the space. The digital strategy worked quickly: "Less than a month had passed and we had our first customer, a French lady."

This willpower was rooted in an old dream of mine: "I never wanted to be an employee. My dream was to employ people. Today I look at the business, which the German [owner] failed at, but I managed to get back on my feet." Success brought an internal dilemma. For a while, Memore juggled both professions, receiving hairdressing clients at the hotel. "I didn't know how to separate them. I used both things at the same time," she admitted. The path, however, was not without trials. The death of my husband, a fundamental pillar of the business, was a hard blow. "Many people thought I was going to close. But I said: 'No, I'm going to stop.'" And it passed. Today, I see the difficulties as learning experiences. "It seems they even stimulate me."

"Today I've already forgotten about the hairdresser. Now I'm thinking about studying tourism. Tourism was hidden inside me," she emphasized, showing enthusiasm for the entrepreneurial and multicultural environment that the hotel provides. "Every time a Frenchman, a German, a Spaniard comes. It's a mix and I'm learning more." Pensão Ya Mute prides itself on its inclusive philosophy. "I don't work just to earn money. Even those who have little can spend the night here," "We accept criticism. We sit down, analyze the mistake and try not to repeat it," assured Memore, highlighting the option of camping in the garden for those who cannot afford a room.

Currently, Memore has the support of partners such as the Chimanimane National Park, with whom she exchanges services and clients, and a special helper: her current boyfriend, who lives in the United States but actively collaborates in the company's management. "He's already part of it. He's inside the company," she concludes with a smile. Looking to the future, her dream is ambitious and clear: "I dream of many rooms here. To do something bigger. At 52 years old, I feel I can't go through this phase without realizing what I'm dreaming of." The entrepreneur's final message to other women is a simple but profound piece of advice: "Love your work. Learn to enjoy what you do. Because if you do everything with your heart, it turns out better. And you go further." In the heart of Chimoio, the Hotel and Guesthouse Ya Mute is more than just a stopover; it's a reflection of a woman's resilience.