About the KL Felicitas Foundation

News from the Founders

News from KL Felicitas Founders Charly and Lisa Kleissner
India Trip Report - February 2011

Charly and I just returned from an eye opening trip to visit three of our Portfolio Entrepreneurs in India – Mann Deshi Mahila Bank, SABRAS, and Jaipur Rugs.  All three are for profit social businesses that are successfully returning value to their investors while effecting measurable social change.

What struck us most about our visit were the similarities we saw between each of the founders.  All three have a deep passion for the people they work with – they communicate deep gratitude and respect for their employees and customers.  All were inspired by the belief that every person deserves a life of dignity.

Two of the enterprises - SABRAS and Jaipur Rugs - have figured out how to reduce intermediaries, improve working conditions, and raise the standard of living for marginalized producers.

Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank, Ltd. is the first all women owned and run cooperative bank in India.  Founded by lower caste women who pooled their savings, the bank currently has 127,000 customers.  To ensure the success of their loan program, they require all borrowers to enroll in their business school.  Programs are tailored for the under educated successfully utilizing self developed learning tools for the illiterate. 

SABRAS is one business line of three under the holding company of SAVE.  All are designed to help salt producers who, without intervention, would only earn 60 cents per day. These interventions enable the producers to double or triple their income.  And all three are for profit businesses paying dividends to their investors.

And lastly, Jaipur Rugs has created a powerful sales and marketing channel for hand loomed carpets providing increased income, health and educational services to marginalized women weavers in rural India.