2012 Annual Report - Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 October 2012
Self-Worth Foundation Fostering Women Entrepreneurs Project
The Foundation, together with Economic
Empowerment for Women (EEW) and Koret
Israel Economic Development Fund (KIEDF)
and with funding from the Women’s Self-Worth
Foundation, has been supporting Jewish and
Arab women entrepreneurs in developing and
expanding their micro-enterprises through
business incubation services, access to capital
and a peer-to-peer network.
To date, 32 women have begun to improve
their capability and confidence through the
business incubation centre in Beit Shemesh.
Over 60 women have been interviewed as
potential candidates to participate in the
coming months. Incubation activities in Beit
Shemesh have included an accelerated
business course, development of business
plans, establishment of regional forums and
consulting services. At least 40 women
entrepreneurs will benefit from networking
opportunities through the Beit Shemesh
incubator’s first regional forum at the beginning
of the following financial year.
Upon completion of the business incubation a
number of these women will benefit from
microloans provided by KIEDF as part of the
project. So far, three women are already
receiving microloans as part of the project.
Michal is one of them. She runs a French
pastry and coffee shop. She is well known for
her French cuisine and unique bakery items
which have a special niche in Jerusalem and
the surrounding area with high potential for
sales. Michal has received a loan from KIEDF
to purchase new supplies and expand one of
her best selling pastry products. An additional
eight potential clients have received support in
developing their loan requests, which involve
working on their business plans and goals for
the future.
The next financial year will focus on on-going
enterprise development and loan distribution
for up to 60 existing women entrepreneurs in
Michal in her pastry shop in Jerusalem, photo by KIEDF
addition to a new group in Katomonim and
KiryatYovel.
In Shemesh, business incubation services will
continue and access to capital will follow for up
to 40 existing women entrepreneurs in addition
to a new group. KIEDF and EEW will also be
working together to coordinate relevant
organisations working in each location, in
order to build up a network of service providers
which women entrepreneurs can tap into to
develop their businesses.
The ultimate goal of the project is to increase
the number of sustainable women-led
businesses in Jersualem’s marginalised
communities through strengthening women’s
confidence, capability and capital.
India Mentor Development Programme
Following our commitment to support women
entrepreneurs in India at the Foundation’s
2010 Women Mean Business Conference, the
Foundation teamed up with the National
Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) to develop a
group of 60 highly effective, accessible
mentors across India.
In this financial year, 68 mentors were
successfully trained in assessing market
opportunities, product development, pricing
techniques for start-ups and financing for
entrepreneurs. This exceeded the original
target of 60.
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