Women Empowerment: Action, Voice, Enterprise - Weave
Chrysalis believes that women from all walks of life have the potential to be successful
entrepreneurs. In order to reach their goals, Chrysalis supports these women entrepreneurs to
generate an income, experience ownership and capitalize on their business potential. WEAVE is a
collaborative effort to support their businesses and link them to the market.
- In 2014 CARE Sri Lanka conducted a programme over 2 years, working with the Department of Industries in the North, to provide training, equipment and access to markets for a total of 250 women weavers in the Northern Province.
- 4 weaving centres in particular were focused on, to assess the main barriers to women entrepreneurs and develop a model which could function successfully and sustainably.
- In 2016 Chrysalis was able to continue and expand the original programme by establishing independent groups of weavers in Mulliyavalai, Paandiyankulam and Thunukkai in Mullaitivu Province and Tharmapuram in Kilinochchi Province.
- These 4 centres are part of the second phase of the project which has a focus on building entrepreneurial capacity and connecting the women entrepreneurs directly to the market.
- As access to markets was seen as the main barrier to the success of these small enterprises, Chrysalis experimented with ways of connecting them to markets, directly marketing the products of the weaving groups, and other women entrepreneurs who had been supported with seed capital grants, at markets such as the Good Market in Colombo and obtaining orders which were passed on directly to the business groups.
- All products are sold to ensure fair prices for the producers, with all profits being passed on to them.
- In addition to expanding market access, Chrysalis will continue to support the growth of businesses of women entrepreneurs through capacity building training, seed capital grants and providing a conducive environment for enterprises owned and managed by women.
- Chrysalis will work with government officers, banks and other stakeholders to provide support and access to capital and services, while also providing gender training workshops for the women involved in the enterprises as well as those in their support systems and influential members of their communities, in order to break through harmful social norms and overcome negative perceptions of women entrepreneurs.
