Good Market Lanka recently launched one of its newest projects, She-Leads – a pilot programme aimed at developing community-based enterprises among women in three different regions of Sri Lanka. This project, in partnership with the NGO Kindernothilfe, aims to empower women by transforming microbusinesses into sustainable business entities.

“We call it a pilot intervention for community enterprise development,” Good Market Lanka Co-Founder Achala Samaradiwakara said. “This project was a learning experience for Good Market as well, as there are many models in the country. The idea is to do business as a group to supply a large market base, which is something new for these women.”

The seven-month pilot project saw the Good Market Lanka team help women in rural areas transform their lives by establishing sustainable, community-based businesses. The initiative, which began at the end of 2022, focuses on creating self-help groups, providing women with the skills and resources they need to turn their enterprises into resilient, thriving businesses.

The project started with extensive research across 10 districts, involving 138 women. It identified several challenges the women faced, including limited market access, branding difficulties, and a lack of business planning and social media marketing skills. However, Samaradiwakara noted that the women exhibited a “resilient team spirit,” which provided a strong foundation for the pilot project.

With the support of local partner organisations, the project was launched in three areas: Mullaitivu, Maskeliya, and Badulla. Samaradiwakara and her team worked directly with the women in their homes and communities, ensuring that the training was integrated into their daily lives without overwhelming them. 

“Sometimes we met in their backyards or kitchens, viewing some of the baskets they made right in their home gardens. We understood their daily routines and never pressured them for training or workshops,” Samaradiwakara explained.

One of the key achievements of the project has been fostering leadership within the community businesses. Each member of the self-help groups has taken on specific responsibilities, from accounting to social media marketing. This structure not only strengthens the business but also builds confidence among the women, enabling them to lead their enterprises independently.

The three businesses fostered by She-Leads include:

• Varnam Mallavi: A women-led initiative transforming Mallavi’s abundant palmyra into eco-friendly products, reducing plastic pollution and uplifting the local community through sustainable practices.
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• Mountain Taste Maskeliya: A community enterprise turning backyard-grown fruits and vegetables into innovative products like fruit toffees and seasonal jams, preventing waste and creating new income opportunities.
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• Bee’s Badulla: A women-led culinary business producing bottled curries, toffees, and chips, combining local flavours with unique cloth packaging and overcoming literacy challenges to run a successful enterprise.

Speaking at the event, Kindernothilfe Country Manager Ramya Jirasinghe highlighted the importance of empowering women through self-help models. 

“Women from underprivileged backgrounds, given the right support, are incredibly strong,” she said. “This project allows them to make the most of their resources and access bigger markets. 

“We started the project in the later stages of the Covid-19 crisis when we realised villages weren’t as affected by lockdowns because they were largely self-sufficient, but lacked the resources to bring their products to Colombo or to bigger markets or to brand their products to meet the requirements of these markets. 

“Samaradiwakara and the Good Market Lanka team have the knack of being able to go to villages and integrate with these ladies and teach. My team and I are very proud to have been part of this initiative.”

The She-Leads pilot project aims not only to support women in building sustainable businesses but also to help them become community leaders, fostering long-term economic and social empowerment in their regions.