For many mothers raising children with disabilities, caregiving often means putting careers, ambitions, and financial independence on hold. However, a group of mothers is trying to change this following a three-day entrepreneurship boot camp. Organised by Phensem, a Civil Society Organisation, the event brought together mothers of children with disabilities to develop and pitch business ideas for investment and support.
From starting an organic mushroom farm to ride service for people with disabilities, these group of women pitched and refined the ideas during the boot camp. For them, these ideas meant building something that could one day support their children and provide them with a future.
According to Phensem’s founder, around 95 percent of the organisation’s 400 members are mothers who are now full-time caregivers for their children.
Prashanti Pradhan, Phensem’s Founder, said, “What we wanted to do through this is to empower mothers to be able to be financially stable. We chose this bootcamp because these mothers cannot do 9- 5 timing jobs as they have to be with their children. However, entrepreneurship gives the flexibility to be able to work at their own time.”
The participants pitched six ideas during the camp. The best three were awarded cash prizes.
The founder said, “Over the next six months, Innovest Private Limited will mentor the participants and help groom and refine their ideas into sustainable businesses. This can help generate income and the products will be very competitive in the market.”
19 women participated in the boot camp, which felt more than an entrepreneurship programme. It became a space where caregiving, resilience, and dreams for their children were transformed into possibilities for the future.
DoEE and UNDP funded the programme.
Sangay Chozom
