TWE- Together We Earn
Kerala, India
Impact
TWE is a Women’s Empowerment Programme supporting rural women in finding employment opportunities. TWE started by running small tea shops in Kerala with women from the area. In 2018, they built their training center but were left without funding to develop the programs.
This partnership allows TWE- Together We Earn to train more women than ever and provide tangible skills-training opportunities with a guaranteed customer base. The income generated through this program allows the organization to continue expanding training for various livelihood opportunities for women in Kerala, and empower more women as entrepreneurs. The centre also provides a platform for women to build confidence and become independent members of society.
Critical Need
Kerala has made strides on women’s empowerment in terms of education and health indicators, having the highest rates in India, yet women’s participation in the labour force is low and declining. In rural Alleppey agriculture, construction, fish farming and sanitary workers are the main sources of income for families.
Women do not often have the opportunity to gain skills and find employment beyond the work they are doing in the fields. TWE- Together We Earn led by Theruvarom in Kerala was created to directly meet the needs of women in the area.
Our Involvement
Planeterra partnered with TWE-Together We Earn to bring their women’s empowerment program to the next level. An investment allowed the organization to build a kitchen in rural Alleppey that can be used for training women in catering skills, prepping food for their local tea shops, and hosting international travellers. Previously, the program focused their livelihood training on opening local tea shops. With this partnership, they are bringing their passion and expertise into tourism for the first time. Training on hospitality and tourism management was provided by Planeterra to ensure TWE’s success as they pivot into tourism for the first time. They received their first international travellers in January 2020 and the program has generated employment for 10 women.
Guests are given a traditional Keralan experience at the centre, enjoying a beautiful vegetarian meal followed by local folk songs passed down by farmers. Guests also learn more about the programs that TWE runs to empower women in the area.
Planeterra continues to mentor TWE as they explore more income-generating opportunities for women in rural Alleppey.
