"Hi! I’m Zara Ansari, a 17-year-old student at Dubai College, currently in Year 13. I’m part of the Class of 2026, and I plan to study Economics at university, a subject I’m deeply passionate about. At A-level, I study Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Chemistry, and Economics, which reflect both my analytical strengths and my interest in the way economies function, grow, and impact people’s lives. As a British-born Pakistani, I’ve always been aware of the untapped economic potential in developing countries like Pakistan, especially in communities where local artisans and small producers create high-quality products but lack access to global markets. This inspired me to build this website as a microfinance-focused platform: a place where these products can be showcased and purchased by international customers, to direct income straight back to the creators. Through this project, I aim to make a modest contribution to improving standards of living and promoting economic empowerment in underserved communities. My broader interests lie in developmental and financial economics, and this website is a way for me to apply those interests in a real-world, meaningful way