The program's focus is on the elimination of barriers: once a woman has a registered business and the basic resources to conduct business, she can access self-employment opportunities as needed/wanted without being deterred by the process and cost of registration, computer resources, or basic start-up costs. If a woman chooses employment or other financial options after participating in the program, she has gained computer resources and/or additional training to assist with seeking employment, and - as a registered business owner - self-employment is now an ongoing option that she can access easily and immediately. Specifically, we will:

• Work with women experiencing violence to create a simple business plan that outlines how they might generate income by working for themselves, with the goal of contributing to a financial safety plan.
• Facilitate the process of registering a woman's business, including covering the cost of registration.
• Provide women with a laptop computer and the basic software required to engage in business-related activities.
• Provide women with information related to legal compliance and government remittances 
• Provide up to $2,000 in start-up cost subsidies per woman, which can be accessed for up to 2 years after her business is registered. 
• Provide ongoing mentorship for women entrepreneurs that participate in the program.

Light a Spark is our introductory program that prepares women to enter the One Spark Entrepreneurship Program, or to pursue other goals to work towards financial security.

By participating in Light a Spark, women will:

• Explore their relationship to money and understand what their financial goals are, and what barriers they face to reaching those goals.
• Have access to pro bono financial, legal, and peer support.
• Be connected to a mentor that will walk with them through their path to financial security.

Light a Spark provides the building blocks, and works to eliminates the barriers, that will increase women’s capacity to reach their financial goals and achieve financial security.

One Spark offers free financial advising to women impacted by violence. If you are in need of advice from a financial advisor, please email corrie@one-spark.ca.