Overview
TO US, SUSTAINABILITY MEANS CONSIDERING OUR LONG-TERM IMPACT. SALAM IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS WHICH HELP PEOPLE TO ESCAPE FROM POVERTY.
Many people need emergency humanitarian aid, but that doesn’t mean that they want to depend on it. So, we aim to provide them with the means to thrive – giving people access to resources, training and funding to help them become more self-sufficient.
Our sustainable initiatives are designed to produce long-lasting benefits. Working in all kinds of diverse communities, we aim to identify and respect their individual needs, challenges, and sensitivities. For instance, some communities have a large number of women who are out of work, while others have a lot of farming families struggling to make enough money. We develop projects on a case-by-case basis, but they always have the same goal – to support people and strengthen communities.
Our aims
Whenever possible, our projects are designed to run in a sustainable cycle so they’ll help as many people as possible. The TukTuk initiative (see below) is a great example. Salam will aim to:
- Provide economic stability to families by training and funding women, empowering them to become providers.
- Support agriculture by providing training, equipment, livestock and trees.
- Eradicate hunger in struggling communities by providing food parcels and training programmes to improve long-term prospects.
- Develop skills to increase income potential and improve people’s quality of life.
Stats
- There are 205 million unemployed people in the world (2022).
- In Bangladesh, 37.7% of women and 80.6% of men are employed (2022).
- In lower middle-income countries, employment among vulnerable women is 68% and among men is 60.2%.
- Globally, 28.0% of households (on average) are headed by women.
Previous work
To break the cycle of poverty, people need opportunities and tools. Skills and equipment can kick-start a new venture, but it must be the right product or service for the community. Our local teams work hard to identify opportunities for new initiatives which will generate income for people.
Some of our livelihood projects have included:
- Olive trees for farmers in Palestine (giving 30-40 to each family)
- Honey-bee training and equipment for people in Pakistan and Uganda
- Goats (livestock and training) for people in Bangladesh
- Electric TukTuks (plus training and business support) for young unemployed people in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Lebanon
- Sewing courses and free machines for women in Bangladesh.
Case Study
AN OLIVE TREE CAN PRODUCE UP TO 20KG OF OLIVES EVERY YEAR.
Our Olive Tree Farming project was established in Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) to give farmers new skills and increase their financial income and independence. Each farming family was given 30-40 young trees. We also provided training in marketing, governance, pricing and reporting – enabling farmers to improve the quality, quantity, and export of their olive crops.
These small, local ventures don’t just provide an income for one family. They bring more money into the local economy and help to build up a thriving community.
Electric TukTuks produce fewer emissions into the environment and provide a cheap way for local people to travel to appointments. So driving a TukTuk is a great income opportunity for an unemployed person. Each driver pays a small monthly fee to hire their TukTuk (which is signed over to them after 18 months), and we provide free training and business support.
If you would like to contribute to our TukTuk Project in Lebanon, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, donations are welcome, with prices starting from £1,500. Please contact a member of our team, to find out more. Your support will make a meaningful impact on the success of our project.
We empower individuals to become independent and create their own source of income to create a better life for themselves. Here at Salam, we either help individuals to kickstart a new small business or we help to expand their existing venture. We offer expert guidance, tailored strategies, and resources to ensure their entrepreneurial journey is a resounding success.
Prices vary based on individual business requirements, starting from £1,000. If you would like to join us and help those in need to unlock a world of opportunities, please contact a member of our team to find out more.
