UNDP Project: Grants of up to $4,400 received by 120 businesswomen from Moldova
A total of 120 businesswomen from the Republic of Moldova benefited last year from grants worth up to $4,400 from the Government of Sweden. The money was provided as part of the project "Climate Resilient Communities through Women's Empowerment". Among the beneficiaries is Maria Josan from the village of Ciorești, Nisporeni district, who has been growing decorative plants in a greenhouse for 11 years. She says her love of nature has empowered her to develop her business, and the fact that her husband supports her in everything she does motivates her not to give up.
We found Maria Josan at her workplace - among the flowers she lovingly grows. She says that since she started her business, she has been using much of what nature gives her for free. For example, she collects rainwater to irrigate the greenhouse and uses vine dung for heating.
"We started with a little bit of seedlings, we used to go and sell some in the village centre. And if we earned a little, it gave us a boost next year to do more, but there were no conditions. Indeed, there were no conditions, because we did it with a makeshift stove, where we had to wake up every two hours," says the entrepreneur.
After years of hard work, in 2021, Maria Josan decided to participate in this project launched by the UNDP. With the help of a grant of more than $4,000 and her own contribution of $2,000, the entrepreneur bought a biomass boiler. This allows her to grow plants in optimal conditions throughout the year and increase her income, as production costs have been significantly lowered.
"Now it is much easier and much better. Back then we used to put it on the fire, smoke would come out. On the low side, but the expenses were still there. Like it or Even if there's no light, it's made to run itself. From March we want up to 18,000 - 20,000 pots," says Maria Josan.
Under the same UNDP project "Climate Resilient Communities through Women's Empowerment", Sweden last year provided another 30 grants worth almost $16,000 to 30 communities.
