Change Initiatives is supporting women to set up and upgrade ICT-based Enterprises for the last one and half year. The support includes skill training, entrepreneurship development, publicity, marketing and consultation.

The latest addition to this range of activities is the establishment of Digital Graphics: an outlet for complete pre-press solution and digital photography in the district of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

In February 2007, some twenty-two basic computer trained women participated in a workshop organised by Change Initiatives in Collaboration with an NGO Jeevika Development Society for aspiring women ICT entrepreneurs. Fifteen women out of these 22 decided to take up basic DTP training and finally eight of them joined the professional DTP training course and the Entrepreneurship Development Programme organised by Change Initiatives. Sarama, Kakoli, Madhushri, Pranita and Manashi -five young and enthusiastic women - got together from that group and Digital Graphics has started its operation at Rasapunja, South 24 Parganas from 29^th May 2007. It was not very easy for them to take the decision of starting their own business. Their family members were not really willing to support them, as it is beyond their imagination that women can take ICT as an entrepreneurial activity that involves comparatively higher amount of money than any other traditional business. Even one of their guardians said "If you sit at home we would not loose anything but if there is a loss in your business we will loose our money". But they were determined to do something new by their own. Digital Graphics has already started their operations and Change Initiatives being the incubator supporting them from various aspects including equipment, skill and on job training, publicity and business advice. The women contributed $15 each for purchase of stationary and other small expenses and also mobilized funds from other agency to purchase additional equipment All these women are associated with the NGO Jeevika Development Society; the mentor for several women from the district, was looking at new areas of livelihoods for women. And this initiative was a timely choice for their beneficiaries. Jeevika is involed in the entire process of this development.

It was a great feeling for all partners as well as for the support agencies when the first customer dropped in just after the opening ceremony. It was a three-pages DTP job and the customers were in real hurry. They saved total 10-kilometers travel due to the opening of Digital Graphics. They were happy too.

The journey has just started and there is a long way to go. Sarama, Kakoli, Madhushri, Pranita and Manashi all are below thirty. They have shown enough courage to start an enterprise at this age and one day their success will prove women can equally perform in the field of ICT-based enterprise if an opportunity comes to them.