There’s no easy answer and Amutha knows this all too well.
Due to financial constraints in her family, her education never progressed beyond the 9th grade. Amutha went on to marry and have two children: a daughter and son. Their family relied on her husband’s income and when he lost his job, their situation went from difficult to much worse. They faced challenges raising two small children with no income and went days without food simply because they could not afford it. Determined to make up the deficit and more, Amutha looked at food wholesale opportunities in her community. If she could get enough money to purchase rice in bulk, she could package it to better suit the needs of families looking for groceries and food service companies in hotels.
Using her first investment from Kairos Global Foundation’s Women’s Transformation Groups, Amutha quickly turned a profit, packaging rice in smaller bundles and delivering it to customers. Her kindness and professionalism went a long way in helping her to keep and attract more customers. Soon, word spread of her reasonable prices and timely deliveries and her business grew. To date, Amutha has received and paid back nine loans; growing her profits and reach every time.
Sustainable microloans work only when certain criteria are met. Key pieces include financial advisement prior to receiving the loan, skills/technical training provided to the loan recipient, and ongoing group support with other small business owners in their area. Therefore, it’s not just about a hard-working entrepreneur working in isolation. A community of support through women’s groups and the necessary skills and financial training accompany every loan given.
So, with a 9th grade education, what did Amutha do? With very little, Amutha accomplished a great deal. She did not let early setbacks stifle her eventual success. Because of others caring for the needs and wellbeing of women in South Asia, Amutha became a role model for her children and a breadwinner for her household.
But it doesn’t stop here for Amutha. When asked how she would use another microloan, she said:
“If I receive another microloan, I plan to expand my business further and create employment opportunities for other women. This expansion will allow me to increase the range of products I offer and grow my shop’s capacity. By doing so, I aim to provide job opportunities to local women, helping them gain financial independence and contribute to their families’ well-being.“
The cycle of empowerment goes on and on when women like Amutha are given the resources they need to open their own business.
The power of a second chance.
Selvi, like many young girls in her village, did not have the opportunity to finish her schooling. As a sibling of 4 children, her parents struggled financially, causing her to drop out after completing the 9th grade.
Years later, her neighbor Valli invited her to one of the KGF’s Women’s Transformation Groups. There she learned about entrepreneurial opportunities like rope making, cow and goat rearing, and produce distribution. Initially, she started a cow rearing business but found she had a stronger interest in pursuing rope making. Her interest eventually blossomed into a thriving business, but not before she encountered problems due to her lack of training. Selvi worked hard to learn all she could to improve her process. Through her training and dedication, she began to turn a profit.
She has since expanded her business to include tailoring and now has other women working for her, thus creating much needed income for other families. No longer under the constraints of daily wage laboring or dependent on their husband’s income, these women are, as Selvi puts it, “standing on their own feet.”
What Selvi needed was a chance to learn about the business opportunities in her local market and the access to education and capital to make her vision come to life.
Some stats around the World concerning mothers
Most single mothers are in their 30s to 40s and do not have a college degree, and about half have never been married. Single mothers are more likely to be Black than mothers overall.
Women and families are the fastest growing groups of those experiencing homelessness nationwide (US), and currently make up about 34% of the homeless population.
1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty.
The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas doubled since 2017, now, more than 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In conflict areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty.
At prime working age, only 61 percent of women are in the labor force versus
90 percent of men.
About Kairos Global Foundation
Kairos, means just the right moment or optimal time. Whether it’s addressing injustice or harnessing opportunities, we, as a movement of women, enter those crucial moments… and turn potential into transformation in a woman’s life.
The idea of ‘Kairos’ really hits home when thinking about women who stand to gain from opportunities such as education and microloans. Through support, we can open doors for women, doors that were once firmly shut. Harsh work environments and poverty are replaced by a better way of life for women and their families—true transformation. Get updates from the field with stories from women experiencing
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