By Steven Fox
The Women’s Entrepreneurship Academy has helped women entrepreneurs in the Northeast grow their businesses, increase capital and network with entrepreneurs. Steve Fox Reports
“Being part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Academy (AWE) program fills all the gaps in my business world,” said Vishu Rita Crocha, founder and owner of Pen Hrill Publication House, a publisher of local books. “It wasn’t always easy – there were times when I didn’t have enough money to publish the next book. But despite all the challenges, I will not change this work for anything else.
Krocha is one of 150 entrepreneurs registered with the US State Department under the AWE program. It operates in more than 50 countries for women entrepreneurs and first-time entrepreneurs to provide the tools needed to create and grow their businesses, grow capital and network with other successful entrepreneurs.
Funded by the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs, the Indian AWE program is administered by the US Consulate in Kolkata and an Asian tank based in Meghalaya. Using the DreamBuilder program, a 13-week online business course that covers planning, marketing, pricing, management, accounting, risk management, financial support, goal setting, and more, teaches women entrepreneurs what AWE wants to make their dreams come true.
“I learned the process of writing a detailed business plan – what should be included in the plan, what factors might influence the business, how to learn about competitors, how to conduct market surveys and how to grow the business,” he says. Daydeep Chetia, a pig-based organization called ‘Let’s Learn Together’, aims to provide quality education to students with language barriers, especially in semi-urban and rural areas.
Like everyone else in the AWE program, Cheetah’s organization was inspired by personal problems.
“As a middle school student and living in a country where there are no coaching facilities, I had a lot of problems preparing for the exams because their content is in English or Hindi but not in the regional languages,” he says.
Cheetah. “I later realized that I had many desires. This inspired me to start a platform that would help students like me prepare for competitive exams without any geographical boundaries or language barriers.
AWE, which operates in Nagaland, Megalaya, Asam, Manpir and Arunahal Pradesh, helps women entrepreneurs in many business ventures.
Business ideas that are part of the AWE program cover a wide range of topics, including health, mental health, hospitality, education, agriculture, food and beverage, beauty and safety, travel and tourism, textiles, and waste management. , Technological breakthroughs, and handicrafts, and more, ”says Pritviraj, a senior partner in the Asian crisis and coordinator of the AWE program in India.
She explains that the companies in the program range from two-person companies to hundreds of people who are employed on a regular basis.
“Candidates for the AWE India program were selected on the basis of openness to female entrepreneurs from the five states to share their innovative business ideas and future plans,” he said. “Candidates are enrolled in a number of parameters, including entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, livelihoods, and technology interventions, among others. Candidates were then ranked according to their results, and more than 250 out of 150 were selected. ”
The technology developed by one company in the AWE program focuses on the cholera epidemic, said Panshi Kaship at the Pig Defense and Space Robotics Laboratory.
“Initially, we built four robots to assist the frontline in battlefields and hostage situations or natural disasters,” she said. “We have carried out our research to develop measures to protect people from microbial enemies in the event of a cholera epidemic, and we have brought three well-tested and proven products to every surface in 30 seconds. The AWE program has provided excellent advice on understanding the weights that women take care of and creating a network.
“The trip is an eye-opening and life-changing experience,” said Rikon Kashung, owner of October Pumpkin Company, a small October company in Manpower. “The AWE and DreamBuilder programs taught me what my college education did not do. After I joined, I knew I could do more to give back to the community.
“Over the years, we have had long-term relationships with some of these entrepreneurs, and from their own experience, it has been gratifying to see them benefit from DreamBuilder training,” said Sabiyashi Duta, chief executive of Asian Conflict. “Gender equity in the MSME sector is key to Northeast development
Region. MSME stands for micro, small and medium enterprises and is considered to be the fastest growing economy in India.
Connections between participants in the AWE program have resulted in a network that provides continuous support to entrepreneurs, NAT notes.
“We are really inspired by the fact that the women are building strong bonds and facilitating each other’s ideas and businesses,” he said. Personally, I think the key to this engagement is to see how the women relate to each other during this program. I strongly believe that this network and the friendship that we have facilitated through the AWA project will go a long way beyond the project and will continue to be a source of ideas, strength and solidarity for these Awe women.
(Spain-Tuf)