When you hear the word entrepreneur, what comes to mind? Perhaps you imagine sleek tech start-ups or bustling office spaces. In many parts of the world, the reality of entrepreneurship looks very different.
At Christian Aid, we’ve seen firsthand how empowering women to lead in business can transform lives—not just for the themselves, but for their families and entire communities too.
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Beyond the traditional entrepreneur
Across the globe, women are stepping into roles once considered off-limits. They're leading farms, building cooperatives and creating businesses in spaces where their presence wasn’t always welcomed.
Women like Janet, Hira and Esther are challenging the traditional mould of what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Janet Ben
In Malawi, Janet Ben is part of the Makande Women’s Group, where women are leading a sustainable business that produces baobab juice. With training and new tools like solar-powered dryers and juice-making machines, Janet and her group have been able to grow their business and increase their income.
As the group expands its production, they’re not only earning more but overcoming systemic barriers to equality and independence. Janet’s journey shows how women in rural communities can become leaders and changemakers, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
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Hira Moni Khatun
In Bangladesh’s remote Kurigram region, Hira Moni Khatun is breaking through societal constraints to rewrite her story. Early marriage and limited access to education mean many women in her village never get the chance to earn an income. But with support from Christian Aid, Hira and her group have learned to produce and sell cloth, now using smartphones and Wi-Fi hubs to expand their business.
Training in e-commerce has opened new horizons, allowing Hira and her team to reach customers far beyond their village. As their business grows, so does their confidence, inspiring other women in the community to dream bigger.
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Esther Simwaka
Esther Simwaka is one of the women leading the Ighembe Cooperative in Malawi, where they mill and package rice to improve their livelihoods. With new business skills and sustainable farming techniques, Esther and her peers have been able to run a successful cooperative with better access to finance.
The cooperative has brought financial stability to Esther and other members, allowing them to earn fairer prices for their rice and invest in their families’ futures. With newfound confidence and skills, Esther now works toward her long-term goals and inspires others in her community to do the same.
As Esther says ‘The cooperative has given me a better direction in life. I work hard every day because I have set goals, I want to achieve to make my family happy.’
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Why this matters
These aren’t just individual triumphs—they’re stories of resilience made possible through the work of Christian Aid’s partners, whose support is creating new opportunities and reshaping futures across communities.
At Christian Aid, we believe that gender justice is inseparable from the fight against poverty. Inequality keeps women trapped in cycles of disadvantage, with limited access to resources, education and economic opportunities. With the support of our partners, women are empowered to lead, transforming their own lives while challenging the systems that perpetuate injustice.
Gender justice is about ensuring everyone—regardless of gender—has the chance to realise their full potential. This work matters because poverty cannot be eradicated until the barriers holding women back are dismantled.
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