Small Business Development Assistance for Karuvi (Centre for Social Resource of Differently Abled)

This month's project is in memory of our dear friend Barathan Ramachandran 

Karuvi - Centre for Social Resource of Differently Abled (karuvi.org) has been providing basic needs, education, medical and employment support and services to differently abled people since 2013. Currently, it serves 658 members and 3000 related family members.

Karuvi has successfully developed small business initiatives that provide income to its members. Karuvi has established production, marketing and sales operations for soap, brooms, besoms and door-mats. Their products have been well received by the local public, and they have a strong customer base.

Building on their small business expertise, Karuvi wanted to produce and sell incense sticks to further assist their members. Karuvi had chosen to produce incense sticks for the following reasons: (1) Karuvi already had the know-how and technology to produce incense sticks. (2) There was a significant market for incense sticks, which was being served by international companies at that time. Karuvi planned to use their existing marketing and sales network to reach this market. (3) Through this project, Karuvi aimed to benefit at least 10 members and their family members in the production and 10 members in the sales of the incense sticks.

They proposed this project as a one-year project (Nov 2023 - Nov 2024). The first six months were run with the support of the project funders. In the following six months, Karuvi aimed to reach a position to develop this business as an independent business, equally benefiting the immediate members involved and the wider organization.

LetUsHelpNow Foundation provided LKR 740,000.00 towards this project. Eagle Care Trust Jaffna provided LKR 200,000.00 towards this project.  Thank you to  Eagle Care Trust Jaffna for collaborating on making this project happen.