RWE
About
Rural Women Entrepreneurship
Since 2016, Plustrust’s RWE Fellowship has been empowering rural women and youth to turn local ideas into sustainable enterprises and community-led initiatives.
Through long-term accompaniment, peer learning and leadership development, RWE helps women move from an idea to a working enterprise, and from beneficiaries to leaders in their own communities. To date, 295 rural women changemakers have been part of the RWE fellowship, forming the heart of a wider Plustrust network of 400+ change-makers.
How It Works
Each RWE fellow is paired with sustained, trust-centred accompaniment that goes well beyond a one-time training. Fellows are anchored in local networks they already trust, and learn alongside a peer community of women walking the same path. Along the way, digital tools expand their access, visibility and enterprise capability, so that what they build stays rooted in, and owned by, their own community.
Progress is tracked through our 3P assessment, which follows each fellow’s growth across Personal, Project and Professional dimensions, at the start, middle and end of the fellowship.
Outcomes & Impact
Reported improvement in self-confidence and capability (Opportunity · Agency · Growth).
Alumni continuation rate: fellows continue their enterprises after the fellowship.
Community members impacted, including 2,000+ children through education and 1,000+ girls through life skills.
Progress is tracked through our 3P assessment, which follows each fellow’s growth across Personal, Project and Professional dimensions at the start, middle and end of the fellowship.
At a Glance 2025–2026
Applications received
Workshops, with 280 participants
Rural women change-makers in the fellowship
6 states, 12 districts
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra
₹2,500 / month
Average additional monthly income
Active anchors
The Change-maker's Journey
Every fellow follows a clear path, from first idea to a sustained enterprise.
- Workshop (0 to 1 month)
An Entrepreneurial Mindset workshop introduces women to the thinking and confidence behind starting something of their own.
- Fellowship Selection (0 to 1 month)
Women ideate, plan and pitch their idea. Selected fellows begin their fellowship.
- Outreach (2 to 7 months)
Fellows study market needs and map their community, so that their enterprise responds to real demand.
- Service Launch (2 to 7 months)
Fellows test their idea in practice and experience the project first-hand.
- Graduation (2 to 7 months)
The project is launched, with support on finance and on sustaining the enterprise.
- Next Steps (1 to 2 years)
Graduates expand their enterprise, step up as anchors in their communities, and continue with professional development.
What Our Fellows Build
Education Enterprises
30 fellows run education initiatives such as learning centres and computer training.
Skill Development Centres
25 fellows run skill-training centres in stitching, beauty, and art and craft.
Service Enterprises
7 fellows run service enterprises such as agriculture-based work and tent house rental.
A Model Built on Trust
Every woman already carries the spark of change. RWE gives her the trust, opportunity and support to act on it, and walks beside her as she becomes a leader in her own community.
Let's Explore Partnerships
We welcome your contributions, time, skills, technology and expertise