Source:  Commonwealth News
Commonwealth News speaks to four women entrepreneurs who have been sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat to showcase their products at Spring Fair International in Birmingham, UK. "We have to recognise the potential of women, and encourage their entrepreneurial spirit"

When Kenyan Jennifer Mulli lost her husband 20 years ago she quickly realised it was not going to be easy as a single parent to raise and support her four children.

So it came as a welcome blessing when five years ago, her 16-year-old son Anthony began selling Kenyan crafts to help put his two sisters through school.

At the time Mrs Mulli had no idea that her son’s attempt to help the family would result in her becoming director of a thriving family business, ‘Katchy Kollections’.

“It started more as a hobby and became a business two years ago. We didn’t take it seriously until we realised it was getting popular and people were beginning to like the products and we were getting more enquiries,” said Ms Mulli.

Today Katchy Kollections has grown its market share from a couple of friends to hundreds of clients, some as far as in the USA and Holland, and three outlets in Kenya.

Thanks to the business Ms Mulli’s two daughters were able to complete their education and she has now turned her attention to helping other disadvantaged women in Kenya.

“We work with girls and women from the slums. We started with one girl five years ago and now we have 20. There is so much demand for work but we can’t employ all of them,” she said.

As one of the businesswomen exhibiting at Spring Fair International, Ms Mulli hopes to boost her international trade so she can employ more disadvantaged girls.

“This programme has helped me greatly in giving me the information I need to prepare for the fair, to be able to understand the market I am coming to and to be able to tap into that market,” she explained.

“It will leverage my understanding of where my products stand in relation to others.”

Ms Mulli stressed that market access and greater support is needed for her and other women to compete in the global arena.

“This business can bring so much revenue to the country if women are supported,” she said.

Sajudah Chattum from Mauritius is the director of Aromocare, a business that specialises in natural healing products found on the remote African small island state.

Ms Chattum opened the doors of Aromocare six months ago, but did not know at the time that it would lead to a struggle for her rights as a woman.

She had difficulties getting permits for her business because of her gender and faced societal pressures to conform to traditional expectations of a woman.

Now Ms Chattum hopes to use Spring Fair International to strengthen her business and secure greater independence for her and other women in Mauritius.

“There are women who can’t work full days outside of their home because their husbands won’t allow it, so I give them part-time work,” she said.

“I am very optimistic about helping women to be economically self-sufficient. I will always fight for that. I don’t want them to stay at home lacking things. I really want to take them out of their cocoons.”

She is thankful for the opportunity provided to her by the Commonwealth Secretariat and it has given her hope to encourage other women.

“Everyone needs to be courageous, even if they don’t have any pennies in their project. Try to work on a project and little by little, try to make contacts with people, and maybe after working with patience they will get an opportunity one day like I did.”

Having grown up in the USA, Haitian-born Marie Roberte Laurent decided to start her own business after seeing all the raw materials Haiti had to offer.

Belzeb Inc., produces essential oil-based products, soaps, body washes, lotions and body oils, and five years ago, she began operating from the Caribbean island of Grenada as well as Haiti.

“When I started out I found I could not source all these raw materials, so I formed women’s groups in Haiti who would find the raw materials for me and I would buy them back.

“This was not only beneficial for the women in these groups but also the families they supported,” she explained.

Ms Laurent said she hoped people would take heed of what women are doing to get exposure for their businesses.

“Women need more support, not just financially, but national and moral support to let them know that they are doing something good, that their country is behind them and they are proud of them.”

She thanked the Commonwealth Secretariat for the opportunity to participate in the Spring Fair International, which she said she never dreamed of being able to attend.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase my products and hopefully make some sales.”

Artist Bianca Bartley of Jamaica began designing her own jewellery using precious stones when she couldn’t find pieces that were original or bold enough for her tastes.

She turned her skills into a business - Peace of Bianca - after demand for her jewellery grew. Now some of the proceeds from her company go to charity and she tries to employ disadvantaged people.

She also brings in other artists so they can showcase their work through her business.

“The business is doing well and it has enabled me to improve the products in terms of the stones used and the quality of the finish to develop the brand,” she said.

Although Peace of Bianca has a lot of exposure locally, Ms Bartley’s aim is to tap into the European market and boutique stores.

Some of the challenges she faces include access to funding and networks, import duties, sourcing raw materials, and language and communication barriers with her suppliers.

She noted that women needed to be educated in setting up businesses, including the pros and cons and the legal implications.

“Women are not taught by society to be money-earners, but nurturers and that has to change. There are basics that you need to know.”

Ms Bartley believes more grants should be offered to women on the basis of their business plan and not on what assets they have.

“Entrepreneurs are not people who ask for handouts, so that has to be addressed. We need grants so we can go on courses and we need to encourage people in the private sector to come on board and support small businesses.

“We have to recognise the potential of women, and encourage their entrepreneurial spirit. We have to show people how what they can do can earn them an income and provide a higher standard of living,” she said.