Harvard's 19th Annual Social Enterprise Conference
Social enterprise celebrates multiple bottom-lines and I am grateful to be a part of a company that is pushing this possibility forward.
For the last 19 years at Harvard University, thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and business professionals have convened to dialogue, debate, and network around issues related to social enterprise.
The Social Enterprise Conference was held this year in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 10-11. The Women’s Bakery had the opportunity to not only attend, but also to speak on a panel entitled, “Creating Economic Opportunities for Women.”
As TWB’s Director of Education & Development, I spoke about TWB’s model, our commitment to women, and the value of harnessing business for good. Moreover, when pressed to share insights or learnings for future social entrepreneurs, I shared two important concepts: 1) you have to listen to others well and 2) things will change – and that’s okay. The Women’s Bakery has changed a lot since I first began my role 2 ½ years ago and this change actually points to larger growth, maturity, and impact.
I was also shared about why working with women in Rwanda is so pressing; typically, narratives about Rwanda allude to the well-known and well-publicized female-majority parliament. However, what that statistic does not reflect is the opportunity available for all women, especially as it relates to income and business.
The experience at the Social Enterprise Conference reminded me that in many ways The Women’s Bakery is on the cutting edge of social enterprise. We have a lot to learn, always, but we’ve also learned a lot and have put it into practice.
Social enterprise celebrates multiple bottom-lines and I am grateful to be a part of a company that is pushing this possibility forward.
That’s bread power.
Women's Participation in Economic Development
We believe in women’s capabilities and we work hard to support them in being active citizens and helping them to become breadwinners in their families.
The Women’s Bakery provides business education, life skills, and applied baking and nutrition skills to women. Through education and vocational training, women learn to source local, nutritious ingredients to produce and sell affordable breads in their communities. This helps them to change their life status from poverty and unemployment to permanent employment and becoming independent women.
Across the world women are considered to be the most important element in a family. They are multitasking; they give birth, take care of children, husband and family. But we can’t forget that they are also making a substantial contribution towards the process of economic transformation and sustainable growth not only in family but also in the community.
The Women’s Bakery has put into consideration women’s participation in the economic development of a family by empowering women and at the same time supporting them to play a vital role in country development through business trainings and starting bakery businesses.
We believe in women’s capabilities and we work hard to support them in being active citizens and helping them to become breadwinners in their families.
#womencan #womenscapabilities #womensempowerment
