BUSINESS: Sana Handicraft & Knitting Co. (handicrafts)
Nadia, 40 years old, ownsSana Handicraft & Knitting Company, in addition to her role as director of business for the women’s association at the Women’s Garden in Afghanistan.
With a background in design, after returning to Afghanistan, Nadia helped women earn a living by taking their finished handicraft products to shops around Kabul to sell them. Eventually she saved enough money to open her own shop in the Women’s Gardne.
Nadia’s business and 20 employees create unique handcrafts, such as table clothes, placemats, photo frames, kitchen utensil holders, pillow cases, chair covers, aprons, envelope organizers, dresses.
In the future, Nadia wants to start a school uniform company.
By attending PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, Nadia wants to learn new ways of trading, new markets and how to take her company to an international level.
Anisa, 29 years old, owns UNK, a handicraft shop. The organization was informally started by Anisa’s mother, who wanted to help the women in her neighborhood. The women were creating beautiful hand-sewn works, and eventually her mother started providing the women with raw materials.
Anisa increased the number of staff, and then found a lady who would sell the finished products. She now trains the women how to buy and sell their products. Most of the women are widows who stay at home.
Anisa hopes to start a literacy class for these women in the future.
Taiba, 23 years old, runs QAFILA, a handicraft business that specializes in clothes, scarves, curtains, cushions, sheets, purses and more.
Taiba is a member of the Afghanistan Women Business Federation, and in addition to running her business for the past six years, she currently works for the Ministry of Finance in Afghanistan.
Taiba and her business partners decided to start QAFILA after they had seen so many women who were unable to turn their talent to a profit, because they were either financially unable to purchase the raw materials or their families would not allow them to have any contact with people at the market.
QAFILA provides women with the raw materials for handicraft production and also takes the products to the marketplace, paying the women their deserved wages.
Taiba hopes to make her business her one and only full-time job by increasing its profitability and finding more markets for her business’ products. It is for these exact reasons she applied for PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS: to learn how to generate more revenue and increase her marketing. She also wants to develop her business management skills.
Taiba considers her strengths to be showing initiative, responsibility and dedication. Though she is still working to develop QAFILA, Taiba’s entrepreneurial spirit has her already thinkig of her next enterprising – either producing sugar or stating a kindergarten.
January is National Mentor Month… Where would we be without our wonderful mentors?
January is National Mentor Month. At the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women we take pride in knowing that we have directly helped more than 200 women in Afghanistan and Rwanda improve their personal and professional lives thanks to the mentorship of women business owners throughout the United States. Read more about National Mentor [...]
IEEW CEO & Founder Wins 2011 Association for Women in Communication Matrix Foundation Award!
IEEW Founder, Dr. Terry Neese just learned she received the 2011 Association for Women in Commuications Matrix Foundation Award for her contributions to the advancement of women through education, entreprenurialism, empowerment, and mentorship around the world. Congratulations, Dr. Neese!
The 2011 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Graduates are Committed to Paying It Forward!
The 2011 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS International Women’s Conference and Graduation was a huge success. The women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda have returned to their home countries with a renewed commitment to pay forward the knowledge and sense of empowerment they received from the program. We congratulate the Class of 2011!
Paying it Forward: PTB Alumnae to Serve as Parliament Lawmakers in Rwanda!
2010 Alumna, Marie Josée Kankera and 2011 Alumna, Teddy Gacinya were sworn in yesterday to Rwanda’s Parliamentary House. Teddy, a newly appointed Senator and Marie Josée, one of the newly appointed members of Parliament, took their oath of office Wednesday and then were welcomed to the House by President Paul Kagame. President Kagame noted that while there [...]
Best-Selling Author of “It’s Your Biz” Book to Donate Proceeds to the Institute!
It’s Your Biz, by Susan Wilson Solovic Dear friend of the Insitute and best-selling author, Susan Wilson Solovic is donating $2 from the sale of every book to support our mission! We thank her for this gracious gift and urge you check out Susan’s website to place your order today. Buy The Book Here! (Use Referral Code [...]
T. Boone Pickens Foundation Spotlights IEEW in August!
The Pickens Foundation has supported the Institute since the first PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program launched in 2007. Pickens fervent belief in the power of entrepreneurship is at the heart of his support for the Institutes work. “I believe that you build stability in developing economies by helping entrepreneurs get a stable foothold, which is why we support [...]
IEEW Founder Receives Honors for a Lifetime of Empowering Women!
Dr.Terry Neese, founder of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday night during The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year Gala, held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Terry was recognized for her business savvy, political involvement, and contributions to empowering women both domestically and globally. “It is a great honor to [...]
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program graduates Gloria Uwizera and Akaliza Gara are featured in The Service Mag’s September edition: Young Women Entreprenuers. Read their inspiring articles here: Gloria Uwizera Akaliza Gara
Take a look at this article in October’s issue of Fortune Magazine - “The X Factor“. Our founder, Dr. Terry Neese, talks about the economic impact of women-owned firms and the connection between entrepreneurship and freedom.
2007 PTB Graduate Elected to Afghan Chamber of Commerce!
Congratulations to Qandi Amaki (Jan), who was just elected as the Afghan Chamber of Commerce Industry’s Director of Membership. Amaki, a 2007 inaugural PTB graduate, made history when she was first elected to this body because she was the only women ever allowed in. Now, she holds a higher position and credits IEEW’s work. [...]
IEEW Joins With Google to Help Small Businesses in Oklahoma Get Online!
We just joined Oklahoma Get Your Business Online, a Google-led program to help small businesses in Oklahoma get online. You’re invited ! November 3 Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Tulsa, OK November 8 Will Rogers Theater Oklahoma City, OK Register today Google and friends are coming to town to get your business online! Oklahoma Get [...]
Advocate Peace: PAY It Forward With an End-of-Year Donation!
Women are a vital resource in any nation’s advancement; they must be able to contribute economically, socially, and politically in order for a nation to develop and prosper on a global level. Unfortunately, there are nations who have not fully tapped in to this potential. The great news is, you can be a part of the solution! Help promote international [...]
Dr. Terry Neese to be Featured in 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar
Dr. Terry Neese was selected from over 5,000 submissions to be featured in The 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada and goes on sale today! Order your calendar here: 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar
Dr. Terry Neese on The Small Business Advocate Show with Jim Blasingame
Dr. Terry Neese, Founder and CEO of The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women discusses the mission, peace & prosperity building initiatives, and recent success stories on the Jim Blasingame radio show, The Small Business Advocate. Click here to listen
IEEW Joins Global Community in Celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week
November 14-20 is Global Entrepreneurship Week(GEW). Enterprising individuals around the globe are held up and spurred on for their part in the transformation of small-town main street USA to developing nation’s villages. GEW is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch start ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand [...]
Advancement of Women Award Honoree, Dr. Terry Neese Ties Success to Three 3′s
A big thank you to the Association of Women in Communications for honoring Dr. Neese with this year’s Matrix Award and for posting this article in the December edition of the AWC Communique. Read the full article here: AWC Communique
Dr. Terry Neese, Empowering Businesswomen Here & Overseas
Check out this article in Corps! Magazine on the Institute, our PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program, and our founder, Dr. Terry Neese. Corps! Magazine Article
The New Times Celebrates PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Rwanda Alumnae Association Launch
The New Times featured the amazing women of the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Rwanda Alumnae Association and their successful launch celebrations. Read more here: The New Times – Rwanda’s First Daily
Dr. Terry Neese and Sarah Sears of S Design Inc. Talk About the Importance of Mentoring on NEWSOK
Two-time mentor and longtime friend of the Institute Sarah Sears, president of the OKC design firm S Design Inc. joined IEEW’s CEO and founder Dr. Terry Neese to speak about the importance of mentorship to thePEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program. Watch the video here: NEWSOK – Local Group Spotlights National Mentoring Month
IEEW’s Newest Board Member and Best-Selling Author, Susan Wilson Solovic Blogs about PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS
Expert blogger, founder and CEO of ItsYourBiz.com, best selling author, and IEEW’s newest board member Susan Wilson Solovic blogs about the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program and the importance of mentors. Thanks Susan! Fast Company Mag – Mentoring Women in a Global Economy
