Online voters only have four days left to cast their ballots for the most inspirational story of entrepreneurship and perseverance in finding a job.

The Ministry of Labor awards dubbed “Israr,” Arabic for “Determination,” celebrates successful Saudi business start-ups and dogged attempts to find jobs. There is SR200,000 in prize money at stake.

Saudis filed over 850 stories in October and November but only 10 made it through the preliminary stages. Seven entries outline successful attempts to finds jobs and three about setting up private businesses.

The awards administration turned the 10 successful experiences into videos, a production process that took around three months. The panel of judges will only choose two winners.

Electronic voting on www.israraward.com opened on Jan. 11 and ends on Jan. 20 for the 10 three-minute videos. The top six videos will go through to the final stage. Over 10,000 people have already voted electronically.

Electronic voters make up 50 percent of the overall vote, with the audience and jury at the awards ceremony on Jan. 23 making up the other half.

The jury includes high-profile figures like Thuraya Obaid, a Shoura Council member, and Ibrahim Al-Moaiqel, director of the Human Resources Development Fund.

Faisal Asad, manager of the awards, said the labor ministry wants to build a culture of determination in the country. “A young person doesn’t have to start with a fancy job,” he told Al-Arabiya TV. “One of the 10 contestants started a job with only SR1,500 a month at a restaurant, but he worked hard until he became a human resources manager earning SR35,000 a month,” he said.

Thamer Al-Farshooti, a contestant with 2,391 votes, the most so far, said willingness, ability, and opportunity are the keys to success.

In his video, Al-Farshooti said he quit his military job because it did not fit in with his ambitions, but struggled as he tried to find his feet as an entrepreneur. After four business ventures failed, he sold his car to support himself. One day, while visiting his mother, he met a businessman who wanted a new building cleaned.

Al-Farshooti seized the opportunity, and with only SR300 in his wallet agreed to clean the building. He used his pocket money to buy cleaning tools and hire help. Now, four years later, Al-Farshooti owns four companies and employs over 800 workers.