At Momentum, we believe in the power of community, creativity, and bold new beginnings. That’s why we’re always inspired by the incredible success stories that come out of our Entrepreneurship programs, and even more so when our graduates join forces in powerful and unexpected ways.

Meet Kelly Choo and Freawet (Freata) Mega: two remarkable women, two unique journeys, and one incredible collaboration.

Both are proud graduates of our Self Employment program, and this year, they joined forces to deliver a visually stunning and captivating presentation at our 22nd Annual Business Breakfast event in April this year (full video of the performance at the end!).

Kelly’s journey began in Korea, where she first fell in love with the mesmerizing craft of sand art. After moving to Calgary, she turned her passion into a business and opened T.SAND, a beautiful tea and art space in the city’s vibrant Beltline.

“I came to Calgary in 2023 with a dream: to open T.SAND, a place where I could share my love of sand art and tea. With 10 years of experience as a sand artist under my belt and two children in tow, I knew what I wanted to do—but I didn’t know where to start. That’s when I found Momentum’s Self Employment program. With Momentum’s support, I launched T.SAND in September, 2024. Opening a business in a new country and with little English has been a challenge, but Momentum set me up to take it on. Now, I’m proud to be a business owner contributing to Calgary’s local economy.”

Freata’s path took her from Asmara, Eritrea to the heart of Calgary, where her entrepreneurial spirit and deep-rooted connection to coffee blossomed into a mobile coffee cart business.

“I came to Calgary after fleeing my home in Asmara, Eritrea, where coffee was central to my childhood. Calgary’s spirit of optimism and prosperity awakened my inner entrepreneur. Through Momentum’s Self Employment program, I learned how to build a business and the skills and support to launch my mobile coffee cart, sharing the rich tradition of coffee and community. Now, my son will grow up with that same connection. I couldn’t have done this anywhere else but Calgary, where opportunity and hospitality basically grow on trees.”

Together, these two entrepreneurs shared their talents and stories in a truly moving way. At the Business Breakfast, Freata recounted her journey to Calgary and her entrepreneurial success, while Kelly brought her story to life through a live sand art performance—a visual and emotional celebration of resilience, growth, and possibility.

Check out the full video below and witness the powerful blend of story and art that brought the experiences of these two women to life.