Refugee Women's Network Inc.

The Microenterprise Program was created in April 2001, in response to recurring requests for professional training and assistance to help start their own business. Since then, we the microenterprise program has successfully trained over 260 refugee and immigrant women in the Atlanta Metropolitan area. 35% have successfully started or strengthened their businesses, and the microloan program has a zero default rate.

Business Plan Training, April 2007  (from L to R): Selar, Layla, Shamsi, Charlene, Dilly,Htwe Htwe, Veronique.

The program's goal is to help refugee and immigrant women attain economic self sufficiency through self-employment. We help them by providing business plan trainings, microloans, one-on-one follow up services, and group workshops on topics such as business taxes and product display for maximum sales. Our participants have come from 24 different countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Bhutan, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Honduras, Iraq, Iran, Jamaica, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela and Vietnam. For more information, contact Ms. Maja Hasic, Microenterprise Program Coordinator at 404-299-0180 x 227 or microenterprise@riwn.org