Created by the Veolia Foundation, the Société d’Exploitation des Eaux du Niger (SEEN),and Empow’Her, the Oasis aimed to support the economic integration of women through entrepreneurship and to raise awareness among them, as well as a wider audience, of the issues related to sustainable development and natural resource conservation. 2,500 people already gathered there around 63 events, and 686 women beneficiated from incubation programs or entrepreneurship trainings.
It is under the auspices of Mrs Elback Zeinabou Tari Bako, Minister of Women’s Promotion and Childhood Protection, that Empower’Her - international association supporting women entrepreneurship- and the SEEN, celebrated the first year of L’Oasis of Niamey today.
L’Oasis ?
This is a place dedicated to women’s entrepreneurship, circular economy, and eco-responsibility. It was opened in Niamey on the 18th of January, 2018. Created by Empow’Her, Veolia and the SEEN- with the support of the Veolia Foundation - L’Oasis of Niamey was inspired by La REcyclerie, Parisian place dedicated to circular economy from which Veolia is the main partner since its opening in 2014.
L’Oasis brings solutions adapted to the territory and population needs. Thus, this place fulfills a double objective: supporting women social and economic integration and their empowerment on the one hand, and raising population awareness of the issues related to sustainable development on the other. The place deploys projects with a high social and environmental impact while representing a green, calm and welcoming space in the heart of Niamey where everyone can find and be a source of inspiration.
A dynamic of social and environmental change
In one year, 2,500 people gathered at the Oasis around 63 events and 686 women were accompanied through incubation programs or entrepreneurship trainings. The development and formalisation of their entrepreneurial management skills help these women benefit from a profitable activity and meet their needs. This social and environmental change impacts both the training beneficiaries and the public sensitized thanks to L’Oasis’ programming, but also communities better informed about these activities. Indeed, many women are sharing their knowledge and skills within organizations or neighbourhood collective workshops.