Trincomalee beneficiaries are the first to complete business-skills training as part of the Women’s Empowerment Project (WEP), and are well on their way to starting their own businesses.

Field officer Shama Mohammed and V. Jeselabanu from Alim Nagar.

When starting a new business there is always the risk of failure; particularly for newcomers. Failure is minimised when a solid business plan is well developed and the entrepreneur has undergone some basic business training. This was the message delivered by committed business trainers in Trincomalee in May, as 75 women undertook a three day “ Training of Women in Starting and Managing of Self-Employment and Micro-Enterprises” programme.

The training programme is part of the larger Social and Economic Empowerment of Women in the North and East of Sri Lanka (WEP) Project. The three day programme was delivered to three groups of women from the three participating villages. Each group consisted of 25 participants. The villages selected comprised Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim women and were Alim Nagar and Thangapuram in Muthur DS Division, and Peramaduwa in Kanthalei DS Division.

Most women expressed that this was the first time they have participated in this type of training program. Therefore Mr Shakthi, Trincomalee-based CEFE lead trainer emphasised the importance of adequate training as, “…failure for one entrepreneur means discouragement for another 25 (entrepreneurs)”. A followup field visit to Hambantota is planned in July. Forty-five women from the three villages will meet with Hambantota Women’s Federation, the Janashakti Bank, small women’s groups and successful entrepreneurs to share their experiences in establishing businesses and forming and strengthening community based organisations.

For the women of Thangapuram, Peramaduwa and Alim Nagar life is difficult - all three villages are very isolated, and as boundary villages to the conflict areas this has taken its toll on the social and economic conditions within these communities. Working daily in the fields or in home-based enterprises provides women with few financial returns for their labour. This project will see these women realise their dreams of running their own businesses – many with the personal goal of increasing their income and economic status, as well as becoming more socially active within their communities.

The training is further supported through the WEP project. Ass women from each village will be selected to receive a loan for a viable business enterprise, and other persons pursuing agricultural or livestock related enterprises will be eligible to receive grants. The selection process for those that receive loans or grants is based on the best business plan developed through the training. The agricultural grants will cover livestock purchase, including chickens for poultry and egg farming, and agricultural inputs, such as fertiliser and seeds.

The Women’s Empowerment Training Programme was delivered through Sewalanka’s newly derived SEDCO (Sewalanka Enterprise Development Company). This training included the CEFE Entrepreneurship Development Awareness Programme for the Tamil speaking villages, and the ILO/SIYB (Start and Improve Your Business) Generate Your Business Idea (GYBI), delivered in Sinhala.

 

Trainer Mr Kesawan with participants from Alim Nagar.

In a follow-up visit to Alim Nagar and Thangapuram on May 11 2004, women had selected their chosen businesses. Eight participants had chosen sewing (with six requiring further skills training), three women had selected rock breaking (with no skill training required), and five others selected rice flour production (requiring training in food handling and packaging). Additional proposed businesses include tooth powder production, snack food processing, a chicken farm, egg farm, and a potential joint project producing rice flour; whereby one woman will grow the rice, and another will make the rice flour.

“Before coming I did all different kinds of work. From this training I have learnt it is better to specialise in one area. I now better understand the abilities and capacities of others. I now feel I am in a positive position to set a goal for my life”, says one participant from Alim Nagar.

In addition to business training, gender training was also conducted. This entailed overcoming perceived barriers based on gender roles in a culturally sensitive manner. In line with the WEP’s long-term objectives: to sustainably enhance women’s participation in the social and economic activities both at the domestic and community level through income and employment generation activities understanding gender and gender roles was an important component.

Participants from Peramaduwa, with trainers Ms. G. Dissanayake and Mr. A. Samaranayaker

Ms. V. Jeselabanu also from Alim Nagar says, “After participating in this training programme I’m now in a position to understand girls don’t have stay in the home. I now understand the value of women’s work, the equality of men and women, and the equal ability to work. I am motivated from this training to start a small business enterprise and feel empowered to do so”.

The Social and Economic Empowerment of Women in the North and East of Sri Lanka Project is a World Bank initiative through Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF) and implemented by the National Development Bank (NDB) and Sewalanka Foundation. Also as part of this project another 25 participants from Peramaduwa in Kanthalei DS Division have completed similar training. A further 50 participants from Alim Nagar and Thangapuram in Muthur DS Division are expected to completed training by the end of July 2004. They will also be eligible for the loans and grants mentioned above.

For further information on SEDCO, please refer to the article or contact via +94 (0)11 254 5688 or sedco@sri.lanka.net

>> For further information on Women’s Empowernment please contact:
Ms K. Nawaratne, Director – Women’s Empowernment Unit on 0)11 2545362-5