WOMEN EMPOWERING SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

Addressing the root problem of poverty that inhibits many women from providing for their families and paying for their children’s education, UDF carried out the Women Empowering Small Business Program.

Initiated in 2006, the 7,540,000 Tanzanian Shillings project was funded by Canadian Food for Children. Providing modest start-up grants of 500,000 Tanzanian Shillings and conducting entrepreneurship workshops, the objective of the project was to empower mothers and caregivers of orphans to initiate income-generating activities.

The participants were 15 women from the Mbeya region of Tanzania, many of whom who were victims of domestic abuse, were not supported by their husbands, and could not afford to look after the children they were responsible for.

The trainings were conducted and led by Mbeya Community Development Officials in accordance with the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce. As a result of the workshops and mentorship provided, the majority of women were successful in launching income generating endeavors.

For example, a young woman who was supporting nine children with no help from her husband, started a business selling soup in a village outside Mbeya city where she can now afford to rent a home and send her kids to school.