Hand in Hand
Finja supports village projects in India
Finja has had a collaboration with Hand in Hand for over 10 years. They work to eradicate poverty by training women so that they can start businesses, create new jobs or further develop existing businesses. Those who need it can get a microloan to start their business. When the loans are then repaid, the money is reinvested in new microloans to more women. An initially small amount grows in this way all the time and can give more and more women the opportunity to lift themselves and their families out of poverty through their own entrepreneurship.
In the wake of the pandemic, the demand for livelihood opportunities and jobs is now increasing dramatically, which means that Hand in Hand’s efforts are expected to grow further. By being a donor to Hand in Hand, we at Finja wish to contribute to a sustainable environment and sustainable social development.
This is how Hand in Hand operates
Hand in Hand’s entrepreneurial model coordinates efforts in five important areas:
Education and entrepreneurship
Self-help groups are formed in the village and there the women receive training in business and entrepreneurship, financing, saving and marketing. They are trained in how to start and run a business.
Vocational training
Some also need vocational training and basic education in reading, writing and arithmetic. The women then gain increased knowledge of trade and business development in order to expand and develop their businesses. marketing.
Financing
Right from the start, the members of the self-help groups regularly start saving small sums, both individually and collectively, to be able to invest. If a smaller loan is required, a microloan is arranged from Hand in Hand’s microcredit fund. The repayment rate is almost 100%.
Expansion
When the companies are up and running, Hand in Hands’ business coaches support the entrepreneurs in matters such as distribution, quality, packaging and expansion. They can also receive support in expanding to new markets outside their local ones.
Interventions in society
Hand in Hand also works with complementary efforts according to local needs, such as extra teaching and support for children’s schooling, health checks and information about nutrition, personal hygiene and child care, as well as efforts for the environment and sustainability where the goal is to create sustainable and green companies
About Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand was started in 1989 by the teacher couple Olle and Gunnel Blomqvist. The organization works mainly in India, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The goal is to improve livelihood opportunities for 10 million people in the world and enable more marginalized people to get out of poverty with the help of self-help. They have 18 employees in Stockholm, and the organizations have roughly 3,000 local employees in the above countries. The money is sent directly to its destination, without intermediaries.
- Hittills har Hand in Hand bidragit till att skapa eller förstärka 4,6 miljoner jobb i Indien, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe och Kenya.
- Det har även skapat och vidareutvecklat 4,6 miljoner verksamheter, varar drygt 3 miljoner i Indien.
- 3,1 miljoner personer har hittills tränats i entreprenörskap.
Läs mer och stötta entreprenörer på www.handinhandsweden.se.
Läs mer om Gull-Britt Jonassons engagemang i Hand in Hand från reportage i Dagens Industri.
Globala hållbarhetsmål
Hand in Hands verksamhet fokuserar särskilt på åtta av de globala hållbarhetsmålen:
