WELivE entrepreneurs “Ona-chantha” (Onam Market)

As the whole state of Kerala gets ready to celebrate its favourite harvest festival Onam, the women entrepreneurs of the BREADS’ Women Empowerment through Livelihood and Entrepreneurship (WELivE) programme in Alappuzha are making the most of the occasion. On 4 September 2022, twelve women (4 entrepreneurial groups and 1 individual entrepreneur) organised an Ona-chantha (onam market) at Maximilian Kolbe Church (Don Bosco) in Mangalam, Alappuzha to market their various products. Their products included  dry fish, pickles of different varieties, coconut oil, ginger curry, chammanthi-podi (chutney powder), and snack items (like chips, sharkara-varatti, etc.).

The Ona Chantha was a successful platform enabling the ladies to reach out to  approximately 500 people to promote and advertise their products, while also making a decent profit from their sales. Overall, it was an occasion for all to celebrate!