Skip to main content
Violette Bukeyeneza (45) waters her market garden at her home in Bukinanyana, Cibitoke. As part of the Graduation Programme all participants are given seeds and training on how to grow food in their gardens. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith / Concern WorldwideViolette Bukeyeneza (45) waters her market garden at her home in Bukinanyana, Cibitoke. As part of the Graduation Programme all participants are given seeds and training on how to grow food in their gardens. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith / Concern Worldwide

Give a business grant

With little or no formal education, women living in countries like Burundi have few opportunities of earning an income to feed their children, find a home or build a future for themselves and their family. The Covid-19 pandemic has added to their struggles as food prices have risen.

Women like Violette face a life of extreme poverty. When her husband abandoned the family, Violette 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, buy animals 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 Cibitoke, Burundi. She was a participant of Concern's livelihoods programme and her business has gone from strength to strength.
Violette and her son Lievain with the pig she has bought from the profits of her business at her home in Cibitoke, Burundi. She was a participant of Concern's livelihoods programme and her business has gone from strength to strength.
I want to donate
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
I had no house. Now I eat what I want. 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?

One

You invest

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

Two

We provide support

Three

Planning for the future

Bushra has been running a small grocery shop near the tented settlement where she lives for Syrian refugees after receiving business training and a start-up grant from Concern. Photo: Darren Vaughan/Concern Worldwide

How Business Grants have helped women

  • In 2020, 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, and 88 per cent maintained this, three years after programme support finished.

Donate now