Social Enterprise

Social Enterprise
Social enterprise involves applying commercial principles to achieve a social purpose. In WLC’s case, it means enabling the graduates of our adult literacy classes to learn practical skills and borrow small amounts of money to start their own business – usually a sewing or beauty-parlour enterprise – in order to achieve some measure of financial independence.

WLC’s specific activities include:

•  Training and mentoring women to teach other women to sew or become beauticians (a growing industry in Varanasi).
•  Offering classes in sewing or beautician services.
•  Develop designs for hand-sewn products for Indian and Canadian markets.
•  Providing business skills training for course graduates, including assisting with referrals and job placements, or helping them set up 
their own business.
•  Assisting women in establishing small savings and credit groups, or making small monetary loans to women wishing to start their    own business.
•  Coordinating self-help groups for women on how to manage their savings.