Women working for change

We have just 10 years to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls, everywhere, if we are to meet the sustainable development goal for gender equality by 2030. We only have to look at the ways in which society still treats women as unequal to men to see that much remains to be done. In many countries, women are still not safe on the street. They don’t have access to education or finance and they can’t choose whether to marry or even who they marry.

But there are many reasons to be optimistic. We see more and more women, all over the world, challenging stereotypes and taking control of their own futures. This month we’d like to celebrate some of the inspirational women who, with the support of our partners, are triumphing over the odds and showing what women can do!

Woman entrepreneur working in her shop

Women leading the way

Louis Aliza Sharif is a South Sudanese woman who arrived at Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya in 2018. She quickly started a business tailoring and making clothes. She also sells perfume made from wood found locally.

Looking back, Louis Aliza says: “It was a challenge to start my business because I did not have money at that time, but one lady helped me with a few clothes. I sold them and later paid her back her money. The idea worked then I started to operate with the little profit I got from the sales.”

Thanks to training from our partner, the African Entrepreneur Collective (AEC), Louis Aliza learned book-keeping and customer relations skills. Before the training, she had fixed prices and often customers went away without buying. Now she knows how to negotiate a price and keep her customers satisfied.

By helping women entrepreneurs like Louis Aliza build new skills and access finance, AEC helps them to lead the way for other women and girls in their communities.

Sharing success

Woman entrepreneur showing her products in her shop

Thirty-year-old Da Ching, from the Bandarban district of Bangladesh, has also built an enterprise from nothing. Unable to find a job, she started her own business selling ornaments she made as a hobby. With training and support from B’Yeah, a member of our partner Youth Business International, she gained the skills and support to grow her business. Through her thriving enterprise, she now not only supports herself but also employs 14 people in her factory and shop.

Da Ching is always looking for opportunities to support her community. She pays women from her community to make traditional dresses, which she sells online and in her shop. She also runs courses at her shop, where she teaches others to create their own rickshaw art. These courses enable people to explore their creativity and learn a new skill.

“I am proud to present myself as a young female entrepreneur and not just be known as someone’s daughter. Every young woman should be able to have their own identity and run their own business,” Da Ching says.

Breaking down barriers

Getting a start-up to work is a challenge. In many cases, women are at an even greater disadvantage than male entrepreneurs.

Chetna Gala Sinha was born in Mumbai. She is an economist, farmer, activist—and an Ashoka Fellow. When she decided to pursue a career in farming, she quickly came up against some of the challenges faced by rural women.

When Chetna first submitted loan applications on behalf of women farmers, they were denied because the women were illiterate. This experience led her to start Mann Deshi Mahila Sahkari, a bank and microfinance institution that makes loans to women in rural areas. It has served more than 27,000 women and enabled more than 40,000 families to buy homes.

Her mission to give women control over their own lives has fuelled other great initiatives, such as a mobile school to teach women business and technology skills in their own villages.

Based on the insights and experiences of leading social entrepreneurs like Chetna, Ashoka is launching the Livelihoods for All initiative.

The IKEA Foundation is happy to partner with Ashoka on the Livelihoods for All initiative. This supports social entrepreneurs and young changemakers in India and Bangladesh to create employment and increase income for 100,000 women and young people.

When women have equal opportunities and control over their own assets, they can play a key role in transforming lives, communities and economies.

Partner

Social

Stay up-to-date and follow us for news and info about exciting grants

  • The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
  • We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
  • We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍 By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth. 🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. *Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA. #IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
1 month ago
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We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics. Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to: ✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises. ✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic. ✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026. By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet. Head to our link in bio to read more. #IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
2 months ago
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We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌 The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future. Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. "Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative 🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
3 months ago
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