WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Maximizing the economic and societal value of Zakat and alms
Women in the region, especially those located in the wars regions, suffer from many crises and challenges. The most important of which is unemployment, social marginalization and misunderstanding due to customs and traditions.
All of these matters become more difficult if the woman is the head of the family, and consequently, these problems are exacerbated, which weakens the woman’s ability to face all of these difficulties. Families headed by a woman are often classified in the first category in terms of the need for support and may include cases of widows, divorcees, or women who have been abandoned or separated by their husbands.
The role of the States and NGOs institutions is to help the woman to overcome all these problems and build a decent life for her and her family when she is the head of the family. Accordingly, there must be creative initiatives that are compatible with the existing problems and overcoming them, thus providing a decent life for this woman and her dependents.
Facing and overcoming all these circumstances is not an easy matter, but rather it must be in accordance with a systematic plan that begins with discovering and identifying these women, describing the situation and discovering skills, and then planning the training on entrepreneurship, providing them with the necessary practical experiences and refining the skills to allow them to establish small projects that It can be a support for them in facing this life obligations and a source of a decent life.
Microfinance is the only option to get funds to start a business that can help supporting families and avoid many social difficulties. In unstable conflict environments such as in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Palestine, there is often a need for microfinance due to the collapse of traditional banking and other commercial finance structures and schemes to qualify for credit. It is a powerful and effective tool to alleviate the difficulties of poor women entrepreneurs from starting businesses or poverty, such as expanding the existing ones, saving for the future, and ensuring their revenues.
Small businesses created through microfinance can pave the way for greater stability by providing employment opportunities for others and, perhaps, access to capital at the local level.
Since inception, IKTIFA Vakfi has been working toward providing all means of support to people with low incomes and owners of small projects in pursuit of creativity to increase the income of individuals and families and improve their standard of living by transforming talents and craftswoman into successful projects through the provision of micro finance with a focus on women and youth.
The Services Provided by the IKTifA’ Vakfi – Financial and Non-Financial Services
IKTIFA Vakfi empowers women by assisting them in establishing small and micro projects. In order to make this successful, IKTIFA Vakfi provides complementary financial and non-financial services and assistance in developing the status of women and skills such as capacity building and assistance in developing their expertise, skills and capabilities to achieve sustainable returns.
1- Financial Support
After approving the implementation of the project according to the procedures followed, IKTIFA Vakfi will do the following:
- Paying the rent of the work place of implementation of the project.
- Purchasing the required production equipment and tools according to the approved feasibility study.
- Purchasing the necessary raw materials to start and operate the project.
- Paying some of the petty cash required to start the project.
- Financial support in times of crisis.
2- Cognitive Support
- Assisting in conducting feasibility studies for projects.
- Securing the technical support and expertise necessary for the success of the project.
- Technical and administrative training and qualification.
- Facilitate the formal registration procedures for the beneficiary company whenever is needed.
- Preparing lists and feasibility studies for projects according to the targeted sectors.
The Impact of IKTIFA Vakfi Services on the Community:
- Contribute to the development of the national economy. In addition to the diversity and integration of projects.
- Expanding the middle class in society.
- Improving the living conditions of the target group by providing financing for economically viable micro-projects in order to enhance the entrepreneurial spirit and a culture of self-reliance.
- Finding financing alternatives that do not create additional burdens on the beneficiaries.
- Reviving and recommending the spirit of community solidarity among individuals.
- Consolidating the concept of sustainable development through IKIFA Vakfi activities in an unconventional way.
- Establish effective and fruitful partnerships with all stakeholders including institutions and individuals in society.
The best earning is the earning of the hand of the worker if he advises
– An honorable hadith –
It is better to teach him to fish than to give him a fish
Chinese Quote
