MANAGERS FROM NOVARE VISIT OUR PROJECTS

A group of 21 senior women managers from the Novare Academy in Sweden visited Hand in Hand in January.

Visiting Hand in Hand projects in Kancheepuram, the managers interacted with self-help group women. They learnt how Hand in Hand organises and trains women before giving them micro loans for enterprises. This credit plus approach helps women run successful small businesses. Sathya, the entrepreneur at the Citizens’ Centre proudly spoke of the range of services she offered – from basic computer courses to e-ticketing and DTP. At the Bharathihar Residential School, the children’s confident step and shining eyes told its own tale: of the hope of seeing their dreams come true. Visitors appreciated HiH’s efforts to mainstream out of school children and saw how the unique Activity-Based pedagogy facilitated easy learning. The expert waste handling practices followed at the Waste Management Project demonstrated HiH’s efforts to encourage environment friendly practices.

The Novare Academy supports a unique network programme for leaders with an interest in international business, partly through Investor AB. After the visit, Jorunn Hillgren of Accenture wrote back to say: “I am deeply impressed by the work you are doing, by the pride in the women’s eyes and the happiness the children’s.”