Small Business Stories -Peace Through Business

Ivy: Women in war torn countries like Rwanda and Afghanistan are picking up pieces after death and devastation change the landscape of their economy. And thanks to the Peace through Business program from the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women. These women are not taking up arms to change their country. They’re launching successful businesses. Terry: We truly believe that if we intricate women about democracy and freedom and entrepreneurship, we build a bridge to them of peace. We brought 15 women from Rwanda to the United States and 13 women from Afghanistan to the United States for education training and mentoring. Gloria: I think it is very important because it’s even bringing a change to the economy of our country. After the genocide, we’ve found that many widows and we don’t have many men. So as many women, we should be concerned do bring something to the economy of our country. And for me, I would say I want to encourage women to own businesses and it would help them to be able to have all the things they need because there are some women who just do like kind of they are depending on their husband. But they should not think that they can always depend on their husband. They can even do something that they can become of themselves. Ivy: Gloria owns her own handmade spring printing and branding business in Rwanda where they able to participate in the Peace through Business program. The program is designed to give women in the struggling economies. The tool is to run a viable successful business. It starts with three weeks of training and business classes at American colleges and universities. Terry: So they are in class three weeks. It’s an intensive three week class. They are taught all about business basics, business plans, marketing, financials, the full package. Ivy: In addition to the three weeks lesson and spend in the classroom, they are also paired with an American women business owner for mentoring. Although the mentor ship only last a week, the relationships and experience these women gain from this program is eternal. Gloria: It was a good chance to meet the Peace organization because I want to get more knowledge, to unmask skills, to give good credit services and there is a chance for me I would interact with other women entrepreneurs, and to get to that part in the ship so that my business will be uplifted, get to task relationship to export goods, involved other women so that you can all work and uplift the economy of our country as women in development. Ivy: The Institute for Economics Empowerment of Women as well as the Peace through Business program are possible things, donations made by businesses, learning institutions and individuals. In the coming years, they help to expand the Peace through Business program to include more countries and new resources. For more information on the institute, and the Peace through Business program, you can log on to their web site at www.ieew.org. I’m Ivy Hartman reporting for sbtv.com. Small Business is Our Only Business.