Empowering Neighbourhoods: Kaaya’s Upcoming Fellowship Program for women entrepreneurs
Introduction
Nestled in the serene Himalayan foothills near Dehradun, Kaaya Learning Centre has long been a beacon of sustainability, community learning, and rural empowerment. Now, in its latest initiative, Kaaya is launching a Fellowship Program for Rural Women Entrepreneurs, an exciting new opportunity designed to equip women with the skills, mentorship, and resources to create and grow their own sustainable businesses.
If you are a woman entrepreneur or aspire to be one, this fellowship could be the transformative step toward building a successful and impactful venture!
Why This Fellowship?
Women in rural India possess incredible entrepreneurial potential, yet they often face significant barriers—limited access to financial resources, lack of mentorship, inadequate market linkages, and minimal digital literacy. Kaaya’s Fellowship Program is designed to address these challenges through a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model, where Kaaya acts as the hub providing training and resources, and the selected women entrepreneurs serve as spokes, bringing the benefits back to their communities.
This initiative aims to:
✅ Enhance entrepreneurial skills through expert-led workshops
✅ Provide financial support to start or scale businesses
✅ Offer mentorship and networking with industry professionals
✅ Create sustainable livelihoods in handicrafts, agriculture, wellness, and eco-tourism
✅ Strengthen rural communities by empowering women as economic leaders
Scope of the Fellowship: Activities Covered
The Kaaya Fellowship provides hands-on learning, funding opportunities, and strategic market linkages in key areas relevant to rural women entrepreneurs. Some of the activities covered under the fellowship include:
🌾 Sustainable Agriculture & Agro-based Enterprises
- Organic farming and permaculture techniques
- Beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, and medicinal plant farming
- Processing and packaging of farm produce (pickles, jams, herbal teas, etc.)
- Dairy and poultry farming business models
🧵 Handicrafts & Rural Artisanal Products
- Handmade textile and weaving techniques
- Bamboo, jute, and natural fiber product development
- Pottery, woodwork, and sustainable craft-making
- Training in online sales platforms for rural artisans
💆♀️ Wellness & Traditional Healing Practices
- Natural skincare and herbal product creation
- Yoga, meditation, and alternative healing therapy training
- Local wellness tourism and retreats for urban visitors
🌿 Eco-Tourism & Homestays
- Setting up community homestays for rural tourism
- Tour guiding and hospitality skills
- Farm-to-table food experiences and culinary tourism
- Promoting indigenous culture and heritage-based tourism
💻 Digital & Financial Literacy
- Training on digital payments and mobile banking
- Marketing through social media and e-commerce platforms
- Basic bookkeeping and business finance management
👩🏫 Community Leadership & Mentorship
- Training women to become peer educators for others
- Building self-help groups (SHGs) for collective entrepreneurship
- Policy advocacy and access to government schemes
Through these diverse activities, the Kaaya Fellowship aims to not just support individual entrepreneurs but also create a ripple effect—where women uplift their communities by becoming changemakers in the local economy.
Program Highlights
🌿 Training and Capacity Building
Fellows will receive hands-on training in business development, financial literacy, digital marketing, and sector-specific skills.
🤝 Mentorship and Networking
Each fellow will be paired with mentors and gain access to peer-learning groups and industry networks.
💰 Financial and Resource Support
From seed funding to subsidized loans and equipment grants, financial barriers won’t hold back promising entrepreneurs.
📈 Market Linkages
Women will get opportunities to showcase and sell their products through Kaaya’s eco-tourism initiatives, retail platforms, and national exhibitions.
🌏 Community Impact
Graduates of the program will be encouraged to train and mentor other women, creating a ripple effect of empowerment.
Who Can Apply?
✅ Women residing in and around Kaaya’s operational area
✅ Those currently running or planning to start a small business
✅ Women committed to sustainability and community impact
✅ Passionate individuals willing to share their knowledge with others
Application Process
📝 Step 1: Submit a simple application outlining your business idea or current venture
📞 Step 2: Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the Kaaya team
🎓 Step 3: Selected fellows will join an orientation and begin their journey toward empowerment!
⏳ Duration: 6–12 months
📍 Location: Kaaya Learning Centre, Dehradun
Join Us in Creating Change!
If you’re a woman entrepreneur looking for the right support to build your business, this fellowship is for you! And if you’re an organization, donor, or mentor looking to contribute, we invite you to partner with us in shaping a future where rural women lead economic change.
📧 For more details and to apply, reach out to us:
📩 Email: info@kaaya.org
📞 Phone: +91-8077264976
🌿 Follow us for updates: Facebook: Kaaya Learning Centre Let’s build a thriving ecosystem for rural women entrepreneurs—one business, one dream at a time! 🌱✨
