Women Empowerment through Decent Employment (WEDE)

This project is being implemented since July 2002 in Kalihat  Upazila of Tangail district. The overriding objective of this project is to    empower women through gainful and sustainable self-employment.

The strategic activities under this project are awareness building training, savings mobilization and management, skills/entrepreneurship development training, micro-credit, marketing assistance/product display, networking/linkage establishment, product development research and proper utilization of available local resources.

Presently being implemented in Sadar, Mogra, Balla and Elenga Unions of Kalihati Upazila, a total of 1050 women have been identified from among the existing SSS Samities as its target members to support them with necessary skills development training and backstop services so as to be able to successfully operate their respective IGAs/enterprises earning better income and can contribute to family well being.

Out of 1050 female members identified, 375 have so far been given 'Entrepreneurship Development' training, 775 women were given general awareness training and 385 women have successfully received different skills development training and a total of TK 10,86,000/- has so far been disbursed as loan among 1023 members. In addition to that, these women are being provided with health services.

Being so supported with training and credit, these women have invested the credit money in their respective enterprises yielding higher income than before and thereby have gained a sense of importance both as earning members of their families and society at large.

BMET ILO UNDP Project

Aimed at creation of employment opportunities for rural poor women through skills development training, this project is being jointly funded by UNDP and ILO and implemented by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training. SSS is one of the implementation partners.

Under this project, the target beneficiaries are being given extensive training on different trades enabling them to undertake and operate on sustainable basis the profit potential IGAs/enterprises of their own choice. Thus, through this project contributions being made towards implementation of the national poverty alleviation strategies.

Activities of this project are currently being implemented in Ghatail Upazila of Tangail district and the women with entrepreneurial zeal and capacities have been identified for different line of support activities. By the time, 15 women have been given training on paper box making & shopping bags, 20 beneficiaries on poultry vaccination & farm management and another 20 members have received training on block-boutique printing. Meanwhile, some of them have shown encouraging performances widening their paths towards better income, self-reliance and esteemed positions in their families as well as in the society.