Economic Entrepreneurship

$2 million - contribution from Doris Buffet/The Sunshine Ladies Foundation helped with the completion of a school in Kabul, supported Arzu carpets and assisted internally displaced people while providing them with essential training programs such as classes on installation of solar paneling. She also generously supports the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women, a four-year degree program for Afghan women ages 18-22. (Privately funded)

$800,000 – Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women/ Northwood University. Led by Council Member Terry Neese, the Institute teamed up with Northwood University to provide Afghan women business owners with a unique training program in marketing and entrepreneurship. Program participants spend time shadowing women business owners in the U.S. and learn how to open a small business. First program commenced in August 2007; the next is scheduled for summer 2008. The Institute has expanded its program to assist women entrepreneurs from Rwanda. (Privately funded)

$2 million - The New Hudson Foundation (NHF). NHF, established in 2005 by Council Member Caroline Firestone, invests in organizations, programs and people dedicated to providing opportunities for the advancement of the health and well-being of vulnerable people, especially Afghan women and children. Some of NHF’s projects include school upgrades, tree planting, hospital restoration and management and support for the Afghan Red Crescent Society. NHF also generously supports U.S. servicemen in Afghanistan by donating items such as ipods, DVD players and videos. (Privately funded.)

$900,000 - Artemis Project/The Garvin School of International Management at Thunderbird University provides 15 Afghan businesswomen with advanced entrepreneurship training. Over a 2-year period, the Garvin School continues to mentor the women to help them develop business concepts and provides expertise to help them become mentors/teachers in their homeland. The next class is scheduled to begin in fall 2008. Additionally, in March 2008, Goldman Sachs, a global banking investment firm, announced a historic global partnership called “10,000 Women,” which will provide 10,000 underserved women in predominantly developing and emerging markets with business and management education. Goldman Sachs has committed $100 million over 5 years to this program. Thunderbird University and the American University of Afghanistan are among the program’s first partners. (Privately funded).

$2.5 million - Arzu Carpets. This program provides training and literacy skills, to Afghan women in the hand knotted Afghan carpet industry. Over 2050 people are currently in the program and Arzu has expanded its operation to Bamiyan Province. With support from USAID, Arzu has more than doubled initial investments. Arzu has been profiled in Time Magazine’s Global Business World Briefing, Forbes, The Financial Times, Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal and was featured in Town & Country and Traditional Homes. (USAID and Private Funds).

$35,000 - contribution made by Daimler Chrysler in 2003-2004 to the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) opened seven community banks in Herat Province providing critical support to women with access to microcredit loans. (Privately funded)

$72,000 - Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program (AEP). Initiated by the U.S. Departments of State and Agriculture, the AEP trained Afghan women at the University of Nebraska in farming and agricultural techniques, as well as business management including access to micro-loans.