Four years ago, Lúcia Sigauque’s life took an unexpected turn. Discover how a sudden change in her circumstances propelled her into a new role as a successful woman entrepreneur and baker in northern Mozambique.
I’m recently back from my first trip to Mozambique. I went to see TechnoServe’s local work in action and to meet members of our team there in person for the first time. As I continue to process everything I saw and learned and the people I had the privilege of meeting, “ripple effect” is a phrase that comes to mind.
TechnoServe works to help women around the world gain equal access to the knowledge, jobs, and finance that enhance their incomes and their economic opportunities for the future. This month, we’re celebrating four women in Africa and Latin America who are transforming their lives and communities.
In Tanzania and Kenya, entrepreneurs like Felistus Issangya and Benson Wando are adopting inclusive business practices to transform lives and entire communities.
In a world where reality TV is often synonymous with drama and outlandish behavior, who knew it could be a tool to fight poverty? A TechnoServe program is using reality TV to equip women entrepreneurs in Mozambique with the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Lily Pacas is an entrepreneur in the coffee business and a fifth-generation coffee producer in El Salvador. Read about her experience growing up in a coffee-growing family, how those experiences led to a career in civil service, and her hopes for women in coffee.
Eight years ago, Fedila Hussein and Mustafa Tesfaye struggled to earn a living from coffee. Their coffee trees were old and were not producing enough to cover the living expenses of their family of six. After participating in a TechnoServe program, Fedila and Mustafa learned important techniques to improve their coffee yields. Today, their farm is flourishing, and they have seen a 23-fold increase in their coffee production.
Meet Yader Blandín. This young Nicaraguan man joined a gender commission to challenge stereotypes and change the mentality of multiple generations within his community. TechnoServe knows engaging men is a critical component of empowering women in agriculture.
Creating employment opportunities for the world’s growing youth population is a critical part of improving livelihoods and combating poverty. TechnoServe has contributed to a new World Economic Forum briefing paper that identifies keys to global job creation.
When Virginie Adounon first opened her beauty salon in Bohicon, Benin, she was not keeping track of her sales or giving herself a salary, and she could not save up enough money to make necessary upgrades to her shop. After joining a TechnoServe program called BeniBiz, she gained the skills she needed to run a profitable business.
