Both financial and informational resources are needed to empower women economically. Since years, the USAID program “Supporting Women and Youth Entrepreneurship in Georgia (USAID YES)” has actively supported women entrepreneurs.
The latest USAID YES Georgia information campaign, “Become a Successful Female Entrepreneur,” took place over the weekend (30 June-3 July). In the framework of the campaign representatives of the program met women living in Kakheti and provided them information about the campaign and the development entrepreneurial activities.
The campaign “Become a Successful Female Entrepreneur”, which is implemented within the USAID YES Georgia program – Buzz Georgia – involves training women in the region, sharing knowledge and experiences with them, and assisting them in their economic activities and entrepreneurial activities. The first event of this kind was held in April 2021.
Around 100 women in the Kakheti area are participating in a campaign that is currently underway. They run a variety of businesses, including a family wine cellar, a traditional crafts workshop, a farm with wheat meadows and almond orchards as well as a family restaurant and sushi bar. USAID YES Georgia campaign representatives visited 12 female entrepreneur beneficiaries of the program. Seven of them hosted a total of 90 women from their local communities to attend informational sessions about women’s entrepreneurship.
Marina Kakiashvili Ruadze tells: “My wine cellar, Doctor’s Bio Winery is where I produce Kvevri Natural Wine since 2020 from my vineyards planted in Akhasheni microzone,” she says. “We are focused primarily on producing premium quality wine. I am a member of Natural Wine Association, and have won awards at local and international exhibitions. My wine is also a prize winner. I received a USAID Grant last year and the equipment that I bought with it has helped me maintain the quality of my wine. The campaign last weekend was a great motivation for women entrepreneurs and I was happy to be a participant.”
What would you do with a 19th-century wine cellar, vineyards and free land near Lopota Valley – one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kakheti – if you were given this opportunity? Maya Mosiashvili, owner of the Lopota Kari hotel, says that you would start a hotel if you had a 19th century wine cellar, vineyards, and free land. “I began by submitting my business idea to Produce Georgia’s micro and small grant program. The funding was small but sufficient to encourage my husband and me to try our hands at hospitality. In the fall of 2019, we opened a 5-room boutique hotel. My husband and I started making wine in our 150-year old cellar, using our organic grapes.
“I heard about the USAID YES Georgia women’s entrepreneurship program during the pandemic, and I attended the trainings that they organized. This helped me a great deal to move my business ahead. I received a lot support from this wonderful team. For start-ups it is important to have the right knowledge and expertise, especially for women with less time and money available to invest in a small business. It can be easy for a woman to start a business, but it’s much harder for her to grow and develop it because it requires a higher level of skill and more money. I hope that the program will continue in the future to support and strengthen the women’s business.”
Salome Matiashvili says, “My wine cellar Karseladze’s Cellar was built in 1902, and it has the status of cultural heritage monument.” “There are many antiques that will transport our guests back in time. I also make Rkatsiteli wine and Saferavi. I make brandy, wine and fruit chacha. “It was a challenge to participate in the Young Entrepreneurs’ School, established within USAID YES Georgia program. I saw my business differently and I began managing it more seriously, which their training encouraged.”
Mariam Kevkhishvili says that her company, Traditional Churchkhela of Kakheti, has been producing different types of churchkhela since 2019. “The main ingredient in the product is grape juice. We source it from our own vineyards. This allows us to control the product quality. In 2019, we planted almond plants in the Gurjaani area, which have already yielded a good harvest. The workshop held last weekend was an informative meeting that was very useful for local woman who wanted to raise awareness of their work.”
The Crystal Foundation implements the program with funding from USAID and the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity initiative (W-GDP). Crystal, a microfinance organisation, provides additional financial support to the project.
By 2024, more than 2600 women entrepreneurs will have better access, both to finance and business services. This will enable them to transform their companies into more profitable ones.
By Mariam Mtivlishvili
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