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Koré Vwazen: Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Initiative

On the background of the increased need for financing amid the pandemic and amongst other socio- political environment challenges in Haiti, our implementing partner GECA conducted a survey in the department of SOUTH in les Cayes within the community. The objective was to determine factors and criteria for growth impediment in this region. Within the results more than half of the respondents, three in four faced a real drop in income and have seen their quality-of-life diminished day by day. According to this observation, the affected citizens are in need business support in order to plan an economic recovery in their sector of activity. It is in this sense that we partnered with GECA in implementing our first lead project "KORE VWAZEN"
Lead Project

1

under implementation
Municipalities

18

in the South of Haiti
Women

700

since 2021
Money Raised

500k

Project Overview

"Kowe Vwazen" is haitian Kreyol for "Brace your Neighbor" is a comprehensive initiative dedicated to empowering women from low to middle-income backgrounds to achieve financial independence through entrepreneurship. This project aims to provide women with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to start and grow successful businesses, ultimately transforming their lives and contributing to economic growth within their communities. As of august 2023, the project is still ongoing, and our key element are the following:1) Site visits to 700 Low-income women entrepreneurs of which: 2) 513 received business and financial management training. Of those 513 women: 120 received support and secured accessible capital through the program. 200 received business plan writing support to access additional capital beyond the program. 193 are receiving year-long support in preparation for future funding.

Project Goals

Entrepreneurship Education
Offer educational programs, workshops, and mentorship to equip women with the skills and knowledge necessary for entrepreneurship.
Financial Literacy
Provide financial literacy training, helping women understand budgeting, financial planning, and investment.
Mentorship
Help to connect women with experienced mentors who can assist them in the areas where they need the most help.
Access to Resources
Connect the new business owners with resources, such as microloans, to help them start or expand their businesses.
Community Building
Foster a supportive community where women can network, learn, and share experiences.

The Who

Low to middle-class women seeking guidance and support for starting or growing their businesses or entrepreneurial ideas. 700 women were contacted to participate and the criteria of selection where: • Age: between 25-60 (including two generations within households in some cases) • Family status: with children, married or not married. • Location: live within 18 communal sections of the department of the south • Household Revenues: below 3,000 USD a year • Have small business: impacted by a known climate event (Hurricane earthquake) or COVID pandemic. • Sector of Activities: Agribusiness, Logistics, Transformation (Main stages of the Agriculture Value Chain)

Outcome

  • Increased entrepreneurship rates among women in the target demographic.
  • Improved financial literacy and management skills.
  • Growth of women-owned businesses.
  • Greater economic independence and self-sufficiency for participants.
  • A supportive community of women entrepreneurs who continue to support each other.
  • All participants go through this process.
  • - Receive training. - Receive mentorship.
  • - Participate in workshop for Goal and Business alignment
  • - Receive visits in Preparation of Business plan.
  • - Go through a process of loan Due diligence.
  • - If ready receive small loan
  • - Receive follow up coaching visits to ensure orientation and discipline

We exist to create opportunities, cultivate dreams, and transform lives by unlocking the entrepreneurial spirit and traits in entrepreneurs from all walks of life.

By encouraging participants to use our custom platform for their daily business needs we create avenues for new development and innovations, whilst we get them accustomed to new technology new business practices and digital solutions. With participants graduating and attaining desired maturity level we can develop new market segments for potential partners such as insurance companies, MFI’s, MSB’s as well as introducing them as a unified group to participate in agri-business, blockchain or other large scale project. We also wish to partner with other local private sector institutions to cooperate and create synergy. These private sector partners will be selected to assist in increasing service base and as well when available provide training in specialized areas growing technical skills of participants. Having matured along with our participants and aligned our vision to serve their needs we envision a replication of this innovative model in other regions of Haiti.

Takeaway

After our 18 months of groundwork, we have found with our team more reason and more purpose for our foundation. We have come to identify with our participants, having the same fears and anxieties regarding our future and especially that of our children. In the end, it gave us a sense of belonging to each other. We have learned so much from this first year, and we have grown along with the people that we are serving. Having constant feedback allows us to change and adjust to their ideal and provide more support as we explore avenues to grow together. With the primary objective being to disrupt the social elevator with training, mentorship, and support, we aspire to meet these women’s needs using our knowledge and our network of collaborating firms and partners while focusing on problem prevention as well as remediation, making social intervention our priority, whilst maintaining a strong commitment to improving the overall quality of their life.The support we seek from partners in the form of a donation, monetary or in kind, will allow us to have the necessary funds and proficiency to continue our project and pursue our advocacy in alignment with our objectives and goals.
Want to support us?
Donating is not just a charitable act; it represents a promise to meet the goals of small business owners. Your support fuels success stories and reinforces our dedication to providing opportunities for economic empowerment. Join us in enhancing lives and igniting possibilities!