Micro Enterprise

Micro enter­prises, defined as small-scale busi­nesses often oper­ated by indi­vid­u­als or small groups, play a crucial role in fos­ter­ing eco­nomic inde­pen­dence, alle­vi­at­ing poverty, and pro­mot­ing com­mu­nity devel­op­ment. While their scale may be modest, their impact can be pro­found, par­tic­u­larly in regions where access to formal employ­ment oppor­tu­ni­ties is limited.

Micro enter­prises encom­pass a wide range of busi­nesses, from street vending and tai­lor­ing to small-scale agri­cul­ture and craft-making. What sets these enter­prises apart is their modest scale and the sig­nif­i­cant impact they can have on the lives of indi­vid­u­als and fam­i­lies. For many, par­tic­u­larly in low-income areas like the slums of Missis, Zambia, micro-enter­prises provide a pathway to eco­nomic inde­pen­dence and self-sufficiency.

Ohfi’s support for micro-enter­prises goes beyond merely pro­vid­ing finan­cial assis­tance. Through a com­pre­hen­sive approach, ohfi works with com­mu­ni­ties to iden­tify viable busi­ness oppor­tu­ni­ties and pro­vides train­ing and resources to help aspir­ing entre­pre­neurs succeed. One of the key strate­gies employed by Ohfi is forming peer groups of women, typ­i­cally com­pris­ing around 10 indi­vid­u­als, who col­lec­tively support up to 100 chil­dren within their communities.

These peer groups undergo train­ing in microen­ter­prise man­age­ment, finan­cial lit­er­acy, and child care and pro­tec­tion. Fur­ther­more, these groups con­tinue to meet reg­u­larly for ongoing train­ing and peer support, fos­ter­ing a sense of com­mu­nity and col­lab­o­ra­tion that strength­ens the resilience of the enterprises.

The impact of Ohfi-sup­ported micro enter­prises extends far beyond eco­nomic empow­er­ment. By gen­er­at­ing income and cre­at­ing employ­ment oppor­tu­ni­ties, these busi­nesses con­tribute to poverty reduc­tion and com­mu­nity devel­op­ment. More­over, they enable indi­vid­u­als, par­tic­u­larly women, to gain a sense of agency and dignity as they take control of their eco­nomic des­tinies. Being able to provide the chil­dren in their care with a home, good nutri­tion, health care, and edu­ca­tion will improve lives for generations.

By invest­ing in micro-enter­prises, we can create lasting pos­i­tive change.

Read Annie’s story here