An Oasis for women, entrepreneurs and environmentalists

Created in 2013, Empow'Her works for the economic and social empowerment of women worldwide. It is already active in nine countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Peru, Senegal and Thailand.

Its latest project targets Niger, where poverty is a huge challenge. Poverty particularly affects women, who represent nearly three-quarters of all people living below the poverty line. In 2018, the association set up a new structure, called L'Oasis, to respond in part to this problem.

A twofold approach

Based in Niamey, the capital of Niger, the vocation of this establishment is to foster women’s development, in particular through entrepreneurship. It gives them a third place designed and developed especially to meet their needs and encourage them to become actors in change.

L’Oasis in Niamey not only focuses on helping women in Niger but also encourages greater consideration of the ecological degradation seen in the increasing scarcity of resources, the growing infertility of the soil, and the problems of waste management in urban areas.

By helping women to find their place in the country's economy, L’Oasis also aims to ensure that environmental issues are given greater consideration nationally. Women who have passed through L’Oasis will in turn be able to promote eco-responsible behaviour in the communities in which they work.

A collaborative space

In practice, a collaborative workspace welcomes entrepreneurs and hosts economic innovation training and a planned incubation program. A cafeteria allows for informal exchanges and other spaces are dedicated to workshops, conferences, screenings, etc. Outside, a botanical garden includes an environmentally-friendly vegetable garden.

The model adopted by L’Oasis in Niamey is based on that of La REcyclerie in Paris, a space supported by the Veolia Foundation, which therefore continues its efforts to promote awareness of societal and ecological transformation. The aim is for everyone to find a sustainable operating model.

Literacy

In 2020, the Foundation is renewing its support for Empow'Her, which is enriching L'Oasis with an entrepreneurial literacy program, complemented by training in agro-ecology for women farmers who are members of the groups. The aim is to strengthen the link between women and the environment and to support the contribution of women in an agricultural value chain geared towards the emergence of a greener Niger.