Since late 2009, AVAG has been focusing energies towards the creation of social enterprises. We are embracing this new challenge, confident that the years of work with women to increase their capacity for self determination and working collectively is ready to blossom into the manifestation of team based income generating initiatives – an important step towards economic independence.

Harnessing the expertise freely available in Auroville and through our volunteers, we have begun exploring possibilities of setting up a few enterprises which have the following aims:

1. To provide livelihood opportunities to AVAG women Self Help Group (SHG) members that will generate at least a minimum wage in decent working conditions and where, additional profit sharing with AVAG will be possible.
2. To generate income through the creation of profitable enterprises to help support the work of AVAG to  become more financially self sustaining.
3. To create enterprises those are not only profitable but provide some social and/or environmental benefit to the local community.

One of those projects is the Eco-Life Store, which offers a variety of affordable and well-chosen  products, which support a better life quality and an environmental friendly living. To read more, click here.

In 2011 we will be launching another new enterprise arising out of our work on rural menstrual hygiene management. Eco femme is a cloth re-usable menstrual pad which provides a cost effective, dignified and environmentally friendly alternative to disposable pads and will be produced by groups of women as an income generating project. We will be sharing more with you about this initiative soon!