Supporting self-initiatives
What would be a good business idea?
Women supported by our local partner organization, the Creative Women Foundation (CWF), can explore this question in depth during numerous group meetings. Our team also provides advisory support in planning income-generating activities and assesses their chances of success.
If the necessary start-up capital is lacking,
even a good business idea is hardly feasible. Our response was to provide small loans after assessing the viability of the ideas and the personal suitability of the applicants through an expert advisor. Since most projects yielded positive results, the repayment discipline of the borrowers was high, allowing the repaid funds to be repeatedly distributed to other women with creative business ideas.
Caution in Crisis!
As the severe economic crisis set in, leading to significant losses in wealth, women with their microloans were also affected. Due to sharply rising prices for basic food items, they were increasingly unable to meet their families’ basic needs. When the COVID-19 pandemic eventually reached Sri Lanka, the demand for microloans collapsed, prompting us to waive the repayment of the funds that were still outstanding. Repayments already made were refunded.
Being Creative in Community.
The social relationships developed over the years between various women’s groups and the CWF team proved to be a solid foundation for continued collaboration. Personal challenges and ideas are shared and exchanged. Craft skills in product development, as well as improved communication and presentation techniques for marketing, are taught through training sessions and topic-specific workshops. Everything is aimed at strengthening women’s entrepreneurial skills so that they can generate an income by selling their products.
