Hand in Hand
Finja supports Hand in Hand
Finja has had a collaboration with Hand in Hand for over 10 years. They work to eradicate poverty by training women so that they can start businesses, create new jobs or further develop existing businesses. Those who need it can get a microloan to start their business. When the loans are then repaid, the money is reinvested in new microloans to more women. An initially small amount grows in this way all the time and can give more and more women the opportunity to lift themselves and their families out of poverty through their own entrepreneurship.
In the wake of the pandemic, the demand for livelihood opportunities and jobs is now increasing dramatically, which means that Hand in Hand’s efforts are expected to grow further. By being a donor to Hand in Hand, we at Finja wish to contribute to a sustainable environment and sustainable social development.
We support two products which you can read more about here:
Christmas gift of the year 2022
Our Christmas gift contributes to Hand in Hand’s female entrepreneurs being given the opportunity to start and run sustainable and profitable farms under the theme “Let it grow”. In this way, the women can both feed the family and get an income of their own. A gift with growing power! Read more about the Christmas gift and help support Hand in Hand here:
This is how Hand in Hand works:
Hand in Hand’s entrepreneurial model coordinates efforts in five important areas:
Education and entrepreneurship
Self-help groups are formed in the village and there the women receive training in business and entrepreneurship, financing, saving and marketing. They are trained in how to start and run a business.
Vocational training
Some also need professional vocational training and basic education in reading, writing and arithmetic. The women then gain increased knowledge of trade and business development in order to expand and develop their businesses. marketing.
Financing
Right from the start, the members of the self-help groups regularly start saving small sums, both individually and collectively, to be able to invest. If a smaller loan is required, a microloan is arranged from Hand in Hand’s microcredit fund. The repayment rate is almost 100%..
Expansion
When the companies are up and running, Hand in Hands’ business coaches support the entrepreneurs in matters such as distribution, quality, packaging and expansion. They can also receive support in expanding to new markets outside their local ones.
Efforts in society
Hand in Hand also works with complementary efforts according to local needs, such as extra teaching and support for children’s schooling, health checks and information about nutrition, personal hygiene and child care, as well as efforts for the environment and sustainability where the goal is to create sustainable and green companies.
About Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand was started in 1989 by the teacher couple Olle and Gunnel Blomqvist. The organization works mainly in India, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The goal is to improve livelihood opportunities for 10 million people in the world and enable more marginalized people to get out of poverty with the help of self-help. They have 18 employees in Stockholm, and the organizations have roughly 3,000 local employees in the above countries. The money is sent directly to its destination, without intermediaries.
- To date, Hand in Hand has contributed to the creation or strengthening of 4.6 million jobs in India, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
- It has also created and further developed 4.6 million businesses, lasting just over 3 million in India.
- 3.1 million people have been trained in entrepreneurship so far.
Read more here: handinhandsweden.se.
Read more about Gull-Britt Jonassons commitment to Hand in Hand from a reportage in Dagens Industri.
Globala sustainability goals
Hand in Hand’s operations focus in particular on eight of the global sustainability goals:
