Thirty-one female entrepreneurs from Dodoma completed a 10-week specialized training in business and entrepreneurship financed by the United States government’s Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program today. During a graduation ceremony attended by Dodoma District Commissioner Jabir Shekimweri and many other important guests, the women were recognized for completing the course and encouraged to continue with their revenue-generating activities. Ambassador Donald Wright spoke on behalf of the US Embassy.
AWE is a global effort of the United States government aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment, with the objective of assisting fifty million women worldwide in reaching their full economic potential. AWE is dedicated to giving women with the information, networks, and access they require to make their ideas a reality.
Speaking to the graduates during the ceremony, Ambassador Wright described the impact of the training that AWE provides. “The ten weeks of training you received as part of this program gave you the practical skills to create sustainable businesses and a network of mentors and like-minded entrepreneurs in the United States,” he said.
He further added that empowering women economically is the fastest way to change society. “Women have a strong multiplier effect on the wider community because when women succeed, they are more likely to invest their earnings into their families and their communities, paying for things like their children’s education and health care.
The economic benefits of your accomplishments support future generations. Your creativity is already having an impact on the society and the economy of Tanzania,” he said.
Ambassador Wright announced an additional $100,000 in financing for the AWE program in Tanzania at the graduation.
Dodoma is the fifth cohort of women to take part in AWE. On September 9, 2019, the first class of twenty women graduated in Dar es Salaam. The second cohort of twenty-five Iringa women entrepreneurs completed their program on December 16, 2020.
The third class of seventeen Zanzibar entrepreneurs graduated on June 28, 2021. Mwanza’s fourth cohort of thirty-two entrepreneurs graduated on November 8, 2021.
Entrepreneurs participating in the AWE program are eligible for extra seed money ranging up to $25,000 from the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) through a relationship with the USADF.
The US Embassy collaborates with Selfina to bring the AWE program to Tanzania. Selfina, founded in 2002 by Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, is a pioneer of micro-credit in Tanzania through micro-leasing, with a special focus on widows and young girls.
Through an active revolving fund, SELFINA has economically empowered over 31,000 women over the last 19 years. The benefits have had an impact on almost 300,000 people’s lives.
Women now run their own enterprises, and over 150,000 new employment have been generated. Ambassador Wright announced an additional $100,000 in financing for the AWE program in Tanzania at the graduation.
Dodoma is the fifth cohort of women to take part in AWE. On September 9, 2019, the first class of twenty women graduated in Dar es Salaam.
The second cohort of twenty-five Iringa women entrepreneurs completed their program on December 16, 2020. The third class of seventeen Zanzibar entrepreneurs graduated on June 28, 2021. Mwanza’s fourth cohort of thirty-two entrepreneurs graduated on November 8, 2021.
Entrepreneurs participating in the AWE program are eligible for extra seed money ranging up to $25,000 from the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) through a relationship with the USADF.
The US Embassy collaborates with Selfina to bring the AWE program to Tanzania. Selfina, founded in 2002 by Dr. Victoria Kisyombe, is a pioneer of micro-credit in Tanzania through micro-leasing, with a special focus on widows and young girls.
Through an active revolving fund, SELFINA has economically empowered over 31,000 women over the last 19 years. The benefits have had an impact on almost 300,000 people’s lives. Women now run their own enterprises, and over 150,000 new employment have been generated.