Bandhwari Women's Project

The Bandhwari Women’s Project is 100% managed by the International Business Honor Society members of Florida International University. IBHS is the student-run organization at FIU for undergraduate students interested in global business and in pursuing careers in the international arena.
           In 2015, the World Bank had estimated that 10% of the world’s population was experiencing extreme poverty, living on less than $1.90 per day.
              Eager to expand our global reach, we took 9 FIU students to the small village of Bandhwari in India in 2016. While there, the team worked together with a group of local women to start up a crafts business to foster their economic independence. The idea was to leverage the time and talents of the unemployed women to create hand-crafted luxury items, and in the process bring much-needed streams of revenue and non-agricultural jobs into the village. 
              Our team also volunteered time at the local primary school, which was extremely eye-opening and allowed us to realize the value of our own public school system here in America. Even to this day, the school is understaffed, and lacking vital resources to provide children with a quality education. Through sustainable philanthropic initiatives, such as our Bandhwari Women's Project, we hope to provide the community with the revenues necessary to raise the quality of life for all.
               Now, we return every spring break; each time our students gain a more diverse world-view while providing moral support, financial stability, and aiding their social environment. Each time we’re able to see their hard work and progress from the year prior, as well as further guide them into the creation of their products. Working together we are able to bring back several products created by these women, products that we continue to sell today.