Meet Elishiwaria – on the fast track to business success

There are millions of under-served women in Africa with the potential to expand their businesses, but who lack the credit, market connections and technical expertise to do so.

We equip women who already run enterprises to move up to the next level, raising themselves and their families well above the lower middle-income poverty line of $3.20 a day.

Women like Elishiwaria who, since joining our advanced business skills and leadership programme, earns five-fold to US $428 a month. She’s the proud owner of a children’s home and daycare centre where she employs three staff (a teacher and two childcare workers) to look after ten children.

Elishiwaria’s success did not come easily. The orphanage had been closed for some time, and Elishiwaria had to grapple with reams of government regulations and processes to get it up and running again.

“I never lost hope,” Elishwaria explains. “And now I can give hope to orphans and less privileged children, because we give them love, food, shelter and an education.”

Elishiwaria is passionate about education. When parents say they can’t afford to send their children to school, Elishiwaria will even pay for the children’s school fees and uniform.