Why Women’s Economic Empowerment Matters

Economic independence is the first step toward social equality. Yet across underserved communities in India, thousands of women remain trapped in cycles of poverty due to lack of access to knowledge, capital, market linkages, and support systems.

Smile Foundation’s Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship program addresses this gap — offering women from urban slums and rural areas the tools, training, and confidence to start and grow sustainable micro-enterprises, strengthening not just their households, but entire communities.

Our Approach

Our programme is designed to transform women into self-reliant entrepreneurs through a structured, step-by-step model that begins with foundational skilling and continues through enterprise set-up and market scaling.

Entrepreneurship Development & Skilling

Training women to manage, sustain, and grow small businesses:

  • Business Planning and Financial Literacy
  • Marketing, Communication & Branding
  • E-commerce, Digital Workshops & Exposure Visits
  • Soft Skills and Confidence Building

Business Ideation & Model Development

Helping women translate ideas into viable business models through:

  • GYB (Generate Your Business) training
  • SYB (Start Your Business) workshops
  • Technical mentoring for business plan finalization
  • Product pricing, market fit & revenue planning

Seed Capital and Market
Linkages

Turning ambition into action by enabling:

  • Seed and working capital support
  • Access to government schemes and subsidies
  • Digital onboarding to e-commerce platforms
  • Peer group networks to sustain growth

Microenterprise Segments We Support

Apparel & Garment Production

Tailoring units, customized stitching services, and small-scale garment manufacturing

Food Processing & Packaging

Home-based spice blending, snack and pickles production, and local packaged foods

Jewellery & Artisan Handicrafts

Traditional jewellery making, decorative items, and region-specific artisanal products

Personal Care & Beauty Services

Salon services, grooming, and wellness-based microenterprises with doorstep offerings

Eco-Friendly Product Manufacturing

Paper bags, seed-based stationery, candles and biodegradable alternatives

Our Impact So Far

Our women entrepreneurs are not just income generators — they become change agents, inspiring others in
their communities, driving collective growth, and redefining the role of women in local economies.

Qualitative Outcomes

  • Financial independence and increased household income for women
  • Women recognized as decision-makers in family and community
  • Rise in digital adoption among women from rural & semi-urban areas
  • Formation of interconnected women entrepreneur networks
  • Enhanced access to banking systems, promoting financial inclusion

Policy & CSR Alignment

Our program is designed to drive both social change and meet CSR commitments:

Companies Act, Schedule VII — aligned with

  • Item 2: Promoting education, employment, and vocational skills
  • Item 3: Gender equality and women’s empowerment

Aatma Nirbhar Bharat -
advancing self-reliance through entrepreneurship

Skill India & Skill Her -
vocational skilling for employability and enterprise

Digital India -
enhancing digital and e-commerce literacy

Aligned Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)