When Naji fled Eritrea, he arrived in Egypt with no resources, no roadmap — only resilience. Years later, that resilience became MAGIC, a fusion restaurant rooted in three cultures and powered by grit. As a refugee entrepreneur and one of the standout founders in the Refugee Launchpad Program, he is now building his business with the tools, training, and digital presence needed to scale.
By Ghada Rashed
In 2017, Naji Mansour stepped into Egypt as a refugee from Eritrea, alone and uncertain of what lay ahead. The cultural shifts, financial constraints, and emotional toll of starting over could have easily broken his spirit. Instead, they became the backdrop to a story defined by persistence.
At first, Naji worked wherever he could — construction sites, cleaning jobs, and dishwashing shifts for just 80 pounds a day. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was survival. Then came an unexpected turning point. While washing dishes in a small restaurant kitchen, Naji quietly began observing the chefs, absorbing techniques and understanding flavors. One day, when a cook failed to show up, he stepped in — and something clicked. In that hot, crowded kitchen, Naji discovered his passion.
The restaurant soon became more than a job — it became a second home and a chosen family. But the journey was not without setbacks. Health issues forced him to leave that job, but the fire had already been lit. He wasn’t ready to give up.
With support from Save the Children, Naji found a small opportunity: renting a corner of a café kitchen. There, he began preparing dishes rooted in the places that shaped him — Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt. Each recipe told a story of migration, adaptation, and belonging. What started as a side hustle in a shared kitchen evolved into something bigger. That small corner eventually became his restaurant, MAGIC — a name that now symbolizes the fusion of flavors and identities.
For Naji, MAGIC is not just a place to eat. It’s a cultural experience. His idea was simple, yet powerful: unite the culinary traditions of the three countries that shaped his life. Although the dishes may share ingredients or names, each culture brings its preparation, spice, and soul. And Naji found a way to blend them all into something uniquely his own — a magic method of storytelling through food.
Unlike many who speak of dreams, Naji speaks of goals. “Dreams are something we imagine. Goals are what we move towards,” he says. That belief led him to join the Refugee Launchpad Program, taking his first steps toward building a structured business. Through the program, he learned the foundations of entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and branding. He also launched his online presence, showcasing his signature dishes and reaching new customers across digital platforms.
But success, according to Naji, is a path — not a destination. “I’m still at the beginning,” he says humbly. “There’s a long way to go for me and for MAGIC.”
What keeps him going is a mindset rooted in action. “One thing I wish I had known earlier,” he reflects, “is that not everyone starts from the same line. But what matters is that you start — wherever you are. Just take that first step.”
Through his restaurant, his story, and his spirit, Naji Mansour is proving that sometimes, the most powerful ingredient in any recipe is resilience.