Entrepreneurship Support Fund Builds Souvenir Businesses
Praskovia Tanova, disabled from birth, had few job prospects in her hometown of Bolgrad in southern Ukraine. Craft-making had been her lifelong hobby, but she had never considered it a viable career option until she read in a local newspaper about an organization that was training people to develop small businesses. Together with some friends from the Bolgrad Association of Disabled Persons, Praskovia attended the training. Later, she and her friends used what they learned to launch their own small business selling handmade dolls and ceramics.
“This project helps disabled people to adapt to society,” said Praskovia. “It gave many of us jobs. We will continue our craft making business even when this project is over. We are trying to expand to different markets right now, and the Bolgrad district government promised to support us in the future.”
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Praskovia puts the finishing touches on a handmade souvenir during a craft making class organized by The Izmail Entrepreneurship Support Fund. Sales of handmade souvenirs such as these will help Praskovia to support herself.
Photo Credit: Izmail Foundation for Entrepreneurs’ Support |
The Izmail Entrepreneurship Support Fund, a local NGO, began this project during the summer of 2007 with support from the Eurasia Foundation, the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine, and USAID. The Fund helps unemployed people establish small businesses and make existing businesses more profitable by providing job skills and small business development training and support in the Izmail area of Odesa Oblast. The Fund has also has helped form the Association of Craftsmen of Prydunavia to aid businesspeople with developing marketing and sales strategies.
In the coming months, project organizers will organize two showcase exhibitions, launch an online store (www.danubesouvenir.com), and publish colorful brochures to help entrepreneurs advertise their crafts. Marketing support will include collaboration with local tourism agencies, supplying retail souvenir stores, networking with individual rural tourism providers and offering souvenirs to tourists arriving by boats at the local port.
Since the project began, the Fund has trained 98 individuals in 26 master classes in traditional craft techniques, such as doll-making, ceramics, and weaving. In addition to participating in small business development trainings, six participants traveled to the national crafts festival, Karpatskyy Vernisazh, in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast to become familiar with the Western Ukraine festival experience.
“This project gives a second chance for national souvenirs and creates new jobs for many people,” said Yuliya Rozzhyvina, head of the Bolgrad Association of Disabled Persons. “For many disabled people, participating in this project is an opportunity to change their lives.”
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