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Nigist Sorsa at her home in SNNPR, Ethiopia. A widow, she says that life is a continuous struggle and the family often doesn't have enough to eat. She has enrolled in Concern's LEAF program, which is based on the graduation model, and is designed to help people upskill and sustainably lift themselves out of extreme poverty.Nigist Sorsa at her home in SNNPR, Ethiopia. A widow, she says that life is a continuous struggle and the family often doesn't have enough to eat. She has enrolled in Concern's LEAF program, which is based on the graduation model, and is designed to help people upskill and sustainably lift themselves out of extreme poverty.

Give a business grant

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From a young age, many women in countries like Burundi don’t get access to formal education, meaning they have no way of earning an income to feed their children, find a home or build a future for themselves and their family.

Women like Violette face a life of extreme poverty. When her husband abandoned her she was forced to beg from neighbours and her children often went to bed hungry. But since Violette started on our two-year livelihood programme, she hasn't looked back. Violette used her small business grant to plant banana crops, which have since led her to be able to employ local people and bring benefits to the wider community.

Violette and her son Lievain with the pig she has bought from the profits of her business at her home in Burundi. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
Violette and her son Lievain with the pig she has bought from the profits of her business.
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Violette Bukeyeneza sits at her new kitchen table and chairs which has bought from the profits of her business at her home in Bukinanyana, Cibitoke, Burundi. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Concern Worldwide
You will see that I have changed. I have food to feed my family. I work for myself
Violette - who received a small business grant

Right now, you could fund a small business grant for a woman like Violette living in extreme poverty. Your return? Knowing that you’ve helped her to earn an income, feed herself and her children and gain the respect of the community.

Today, your donation could help other women invest in their livelihoods. They could turn your generosity into whatever they need, from coffee beans to banana plants, seeds or tools.

How does it work?

You invest

You make your investment and we work with the local community to find the women who most need help.

We provide support

Planning for the future

Laisa James, daughter of Stawa James. Stawa says her yields have increased dramatically since she started using conservation agriculture. Concern has been carrying out Conservation Agriculture programming in Malawi since 2012, with the assistance of Accenture Ireland. Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide

How Business Grants have helped women

  • In 2019, 7,284 women were supported through our programme in countries like Malawi, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Haiti.

  • We’ve helped them expand existing or start new small businesses, feed themselves and their children, improve their nutrition, rear animals, improve their health status and levels of hygiene, increase their access to education and build homes.

  • In Rwanda, 90 per cent of participants were able to meet their food and healthcare needs after one year with 88 per cent maintaining this status three years after programme support finished.

Donate now