Establishing New Asset-Building Enterprises

Women’s Innovation Social Entrepreneurship (WISE)

Social entrepreneurs have been referred to as “change agents” and “innovators.” Simply stated, social entrepreneurs engage in businesses to advance a social or environmental cause or address a social need. Partnering with Global Green Growth Group, the first project of the WISE program was producing basil plants called tulsi. Tulsi is a type of native plant with antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-stimulating properties. The plant gives out large amounts of oxygen which is good for the environment by absorbing harmful gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

The WISE program includes those asset-building activities that are considered social entreprenurship. These include

• Shops,
• Hotels (restuarants),
• Coconut leaves weaving,
• Tea stalls,
• Fruits and vegetables shop,
• Fish vendors,
• Flower shop,
• Selling curd,
• Bangle shop,
• Cloth merchant,
• Ironing,
• Stationery shop,
• Printer for commercial purpose,
• Tailoring shop,
• Cooking mushroom soup and evening snacks,
• Collective farming,
• Papad making,
• Making jewelry (with imitation gold),
• Goat rearing.

From 2017-2019, there were 200 individual members who started their own businesses.

From 2020-2022, 171 women started their own businesses.