By Maksuda Akter Hridi | Exicutive, Partnership, OBHIZATRIK Foundation
Project Summary
OBHIZATRIK Foundation continues its commitment to promoting women’s economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods through its various initiatives, including the SHOKKHOM Nari Project, SHAKTI Project and Project SOFOL. These initiatives support women from low-income and underprivileged communities by providing practical livelihood opportunities, skills development, productive assets and business support.
Through the SHOKKHOM Nari Project, women receive training, livelihood support, and opportunities to develop small businesses. Support includes van-based businesses, livestock farming, food carts, and other income-generating activities, enabling women to use their skills and resources to earn a sustainable income.
Through the SHAKTI Project, women who already have skills and business interests but lack the necessary productive assets receive tailored support. Depending on their livelihood plans, beneficiaries receive assets such as sewing machines, livestock including cows, goats, chickens and sheep, clothing and grocery business materials, and other livelihood resources. The project has supported women in establishing or strengthening a wide range of enterprises, including women’s boutique shops, homemade food businesses, hand-block and embroidery businesses, handicrafts and crochet enterprises, backyard and rooftop farming, food stalls, small shops, grocery shops, and tea stalls.
In addition, Project SOFOL supports small and medium-sized women-led enterprises with opportunities to strengthen and expand their existing businesses. Through this initiative, six new beneficiaries have recently joined the project and are receiving support to improve their enterprises and livelihood opportunities.
To date, approximately 3,200 beneficiaries have received support through the SHOKKHOM Nari and SHAKTI Projects, reflecting OBHIZATRIK Foundation’s continued efforts to create sustainable economic opportunities for women.
Solution
The integrated approach of SHOKKHOM Nari, SHAKTI, and SOFOL provides women with more than one-time financial assistance. The projects focus on strengthening women’s capacity to earn, manage livelihoods, and gradually become economically self-reliant.
Training and practical livelihood support help women develop the confidence and skills needed to start or improve their businesses. Productive assets such as sewing machines, livestock, food carts, shop materials, and other business inputs allow beneficiaries to convert their existing skills into regular income-generating activities.
The projects also create opportunities for women to participate more actively in household economic decisions and contribute to family expenses. For women already engaged in small businesses, SOFOL provides an opportunity to strengthen and expand their enterprises, helping them move towards greater sustainability and growth.
Through these combined interventions, OBHIZATRIK Foundation is supporting women to build sustainable livelihoods, strengthen their financial independence, and become more active contributors to their families and communities.
Challenges
Despite the encouraging progress, women entrepreneurs continue to face several challenges in establishing and expanding their livelihoods:
To address these challenges, OBHIZATRIK Foundation continues to provide follow-up support, guidance, mentoring, and linkages with available market and community-level opportunities. The organization also continues to explore ways to strengthen business capacity and create better opportunities for women entrepreneurs to sustain and expand their livelihoods.
Future Plan
In the coming months, OBHIZATRIK Foundation aims to expand its women’s economic empowerment initiatives and reach more women who have the skills and motivation to become self-reliant but lack the necessary resources and opportunities.
The organization plans to:
With the continued support of GlobalGiving and generous donors, OBHIZATRIK Foundation aims to create more sustainable livelihood opportunities for women across different communities in Bangladesh and contribute to long-term economic and social development.
Conclusion
The Empowering Women Entrepreneurs initiative reflects OBHIZATRIK Foundation’s continued commitment to creating practical and sustainable opportunities for women to improve their livelihoods and achieve greater economic independence.
Through SHOKKHOM Nari, SHAKTI, and Project SOFOL, women are receiving training, productive assets, livelihood opportunities, and business development support according to their individual skills and needs. From tailoring and livestock farming to food businesses, boutiques, handicrafts, farming, grocery shops, and growing SME enterprises, these initiatives are helping women turn their skills and potential into sustainable sources of income.
With approximately 3,200 women already supported through the SHOKKHOM Nari and SHAKTI Projects, along with the recent inclusion of six new beneficiaries under SOFOL, the initiative continues to expand its reach and impact.
With the continued encouragement and support of GlobalGiving and valued donors, OBHIZATRIK Foundation remains committed to supporting more women to build sustainable businesses, strengthen their families, and contribute to stronger and more resilient communities.
By Maksuda Akter Hridi | Exicutive, Partnership, OBHIZATRIK Foundation
By Maksuda Akter Hridi | Exicutive, Partnership, OBHIZATRIK Foundation
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