Project Description

The program, lasting between 8 and 10 months, consists of approximately 120 hours. There are 22 large group meetings co-led by a business facilitator and empowerment coach. Topics discussed include: personal empowerment, time management, formulating a business idea, marketing/advertising, financial management, pricing, legal issues, and preparing a strategic business plan. Additionally, the women are split into small groups (up to 7 women per group) devoted to technical assistance and mentoring; the facilitator meets with each of these groups 6 times throughout the duration of the course. Each woman receives two one-on-one consultations: one with the business facilitator and one with the empowerment coach. The woman chooses when she would like these consultations and they are designed to address a specific obstacle and are tailored to whatever the participant needs. 

The participants also take part in at least one site visit to observe a successful business and are welcome to join any of EEW’s seminars, business marathons, and workshops throughout their time in the program.

 

Project Goal

To assist women from underprivileged populations improve their economic welfare and break out of the poverty cycle by establishing and developing their own small businesses, thereby achieving economic independence and stability.

 

Target Population

Low-income and poor women, Jewish and Arab, from the social and geographic periphery of Israel, who possess an entrepreneurial spirit but who lack access to suitable business training and bank credit.

 

Staff
Each program is run by one business facilitator and one empowerment facilitator and additional lectures and workshops are given by professionals in a variety of fields. Our facilitators are all highly trained professionals who have been working with EEW for many years, receive specific training and staff development, and take part in constant revision of the program, ensuring their methods are suited to the changing needs of the field.

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