Pollinate Group envisions a world where women are equipped to lead their communities out of poverty. They achieve this by empowering women in India and Nepal to distribute quality household products that improve health, save time and money. In this story, you’ll read more about this DOEN partner and the impact they make.
Discrimination against women
While both men and women suffer from poverty, gender discrimination means women have fewer resources to access. Women retain the full burden of household chores, spending hours every day preparing meals and using low-quality household solutions for things like lighting and cooking. Women are restricted from further education and cannot commit to employment due to discriminatory social norms in their communities.
Problems due to poverty
Families in poverty suffer from preventable health problems. Children are forced to leave school before finishing to assist at home or to support their families financially. Some children may never even get to start an education, as their families cannot afford it.
Role models that offer alternatives
Pollinate Group identifies, trains and develops local women entrepreneurs who work hard to reach families living on less than 1.60 EUR a day. Pollinate Group calls its women entrepreneurs “Suryamukhis”, which means sunflower in Hindi. Suryamukhis earn respect and a meaningful income. They also act as role models who raise awareness about better product alternatives, such as solar lights, cooking appliances, water filters and many other life-improving products.
Focus on the community
Pollinate Group provides business skills and products, but they also support community activities to position women as leaders and work with each woman’s family to bring them along on this journey. Through their work, women establish trusting, long-term service relationships with their communities. Their customer service focus, including after sales support, is also a key differentiator from other organisations, and a key tool to help families break the cycle of poverty.
A new generation of leaders
In addition to enabling access to life-improving products, and increasing women entrepreneurs' skills, confidence and income, they deliver immersive programs for students, professionals and leaders seeking to have an immediate impact and learn about opportunities from different communities. Through these programs, the participants are equipped with practical experience to become the next generation of social and environmental leaders.
