Aizawl: On April 2, 2024, Lalrinzuali Ralte paced anxiously in the reception lobby of the Mizoram State Guest House, clutching a paper in one hand while balancing her baby in a carrier strapped to her chest. After about 20 minutes, she stood confidently before an audience of approximately 50 women entrepreneurs, sharing insights about her furniture company, Dusty Woods Works.
Ralte was among the entrepreneurs participating in the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE-4.0) State-Level Bootcamp, held in Aizawl, Mizoram, on Monday and Tuesday. The event was organized by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata in partnership with Contact Base.
During her presentation, Ralte passionately narrated her journey in the world of woodworking and furniture making, tracing her inspiration back to the time she designed her room. She elaborated on Dusty Woods Works’ current standing and its aspirations to export locally crafted products designed by Mizo artisans.
She shared her experience with EastMojo saying, “The knowledge and opportunities that have surfaced from this experience in just 2 days are nothing short of amazing. One of the best part about this bootcamp was undoubtedly the quality of the faculty. You will not find a more dedicated team who are so positive, empowering and encouraging. The delivery of the course by my mentor was brilliant and the business advice I received was excellent and tailored to what I am trying to achieve. The bootcamp also fostered a sense of community and solidarity among all the participants. I gained a lot from networking; connecting and hearing the stories of other women who have overcome obstacles, achieved milestones, and created value through their ventures inspired me a lot. I cannot recommend AWE Bootcamp enough to anyone on the fence.”
The bootcamp convened 50 women entrepreneurs from Mizoram, along with five business mentors and experts from West Bengal and the Northeast. These mentors brought years of professional experience to guide startups and support their growth journeys. Most participants represented early-stage businesses in sectors such as textiles, handicrafts, handlooms, food, sustainability, and jewelry.
Given that many of the entrepreneurs were first-generation businesswomen, there was a palpable need for mentoring support, awareness of available resources, and information on funding opportunities. Through personalized and group mentoring sessions, participants developed individual business profiles, gained insights into market-customer-product dynamics, articulated growth plans, and identified capacity gaps. Mentors also assisted in refining business cases and identifying potential candidates for further mentoring and capacity building.
Following the boot camp, regular online skill-building and mentoring sessions will be conducted to empower women entrepreneurs and foster business growth.
The AWE program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA), operates in over 50 countries globally and has engaged with more than 25,000 women entrepreneurs despite pandemic challenges. Contact Base, a social enterprise headquartered in Kolkata, with support from the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, has been instrumental in working with women entrepreneurs from Mizoram and Tripura through the initiative “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 4.0”.
Irene Lalnunpuii, one of the mentors and owner of Weave Me More Dreams, shared her experience with EastMojo, saying, “It was an absolute delight and a privilege to spend two days of intensive learning, business analysis, and sharing with all levels of women entrepreneurs from Mizoram – some were micro-entrepreneurs who make their product as well as handle each aspect of their business themselves while we had others who had well-established enterprises. The common thread I saw was the passion each woman entrepreneur had for whichever line of business she chose and the dedication and sincerity with which each one pursued this passion. The boot camp was well planned and well organised, I was in awe of my fellow mentors who came to share all their knowledge and experiences with the mentees. I hope we get to have many more such workshops and interactions with experts in various fields who can help encourage the entrepreneurs in scaling up and broaden their network as well as their resource base.”
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
Elizabeth Lee the Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate, Kolkata and the Director of the American Center in Kolkata also shared her enthusiasm for the program in Mizoram, noting the eagerness of participants to learn and grow their businesses. She emphasized the significant turnout and the absence of dropouts, indicating a strong demand for such programs in Mizoram.
“This is our fourth iteration of the academy for women entrepreneurs,” she remarked. “So far, over 400 women have been trained, and we are excited to see what they are going to do with all this knowledge.”
Also Read | Woman of Mizo descent killed in Israel airstrike while delivering aid in Gaza