Swan Yi

Swan Yi, which closed in 2021, used Pact’s award-winning savings-based women’s economic empowerment model, WORTH, to help women better support themselves and their families. In addition to helping women save money and access credit, WORTH provides intensive training and support to build members' capacity as successful entrepreneurs. The project incorporated leadership skills to support the health and education of women, their families, and communities. Swan Yi also incorporated an advocacy curriculum, educating members on topics including labor laws, domestic violence, divorce, and children’s and land rights. Continuous self-learning helped women develop business literacy and numeracy skills to start, manage, and sustain their businesses. Later project components included creating a healthy physical environment at the community level by improving water, sanitation and hygiene in schools, and promoting improved waste management practices through a participatory community action planning process. Pact also built connections between recycling-based SMEs and WORTH groups to explore new income generation opportunities for women.