FWEN Winning Business Plans Announced!

On Tuesday, 3 August 2010, Fostering Women Entrepreneurs in Nablus (FWEN) program, under the patronage of Nablus Governor Jibril Al Bakri, celebrated the completion of the project’s first phase. During the ceremony, TYO announced the 10 winning business plans that will continue to the second phase of the FWEN project.

In his remarks to all the FWEN participants, Gov. Al Bakri expressed the importance of empowering women economically, and the government’s commitment to developing the community and allowing for the flow of creative ideas.

The second phase of the FWEN program begins next month, during which time coaches will work with the creators of the winning business plans to advance their proposals and determine the support (financial, in-kind and supervisory) required for their successful development and implementation as pilot businesses. Other participants will be free to pursue their own business plans, but may not receive any support from project partners beyond the basic training and coaching hours.

Congratulations to the winning entrepreneurs:

Hayfa, 24, and Ayat, 24, Recycling project

Aya, 22, Sheep farm

Hana, 25, Heba, 28, H2 Fashion project

Sahar, 27, Graphic Design project

Nehaya, 25, Restaurant

Rima, 23, and Afnan, 27, Coffee roaster project

Yasmeen, 24, Clothing store

Hadeel, 24, Intercultural cooperation project

May, 24, Chicken farm

Rose, 25, Hair Salon project

ABOUT FWEN: During the Fifth Annual Clinton Global Initiative (New York, September 2009), the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Tomorrow’s Youth Organization (TYO) committed to contribute to women’s economic empowerment in Nablus. The project, Fostering Women Entrepreneurs in Nablus, is now underway at the TYO Center in Nablus and is planned to begin in Lebanon in the fall of 2010.