Alleviating poverty using small business training

Ndeipi! training for 2023 came to an end on 2^nd October after having run 6 workshops.  The participants will graduate in December, they will be awarded Certificates of Participation. The occasion is very exciting especially for our facilitator Chris Nenga whose training has both been equipping and empowering to the participants in their businesses now and beyond.  We equip participants with knowledge that we hope will carry them through thei business endeavours now and in the future. We are encouraged by previous participants who continue to do amazing work in their communities. They have managed to alleviate poverty in their families. Amongst our participants this year, we have lone parenting mothers who have managed to sustain their families and make a decent living.  Young men and women have gained knowledge on how to run small businesses that they never thought possible to do. Ndeipi! has made this possible.

Ndeipi! has taught the participants how to be accountable to themselves in terms of record keeping. Chris taught them the importance of budgeting and sticking to the budget. It was interesting to see how many of the participants testified that they did not know how important it was to budget until they started doing it and saw the benefits. Participants are taught practical ways of making their businesses survive and thrive - from how they present themselves right to how they can make and manage profits.

It has been amazing to see how enlightened the participants became as the year progressed. We are really pleased with all their achievements at the conclusion of the 6 session workshops. We hope to continue to hear from them even after they graduate in December.

Ndeipi! workshop kicked off on 27^th February and we have had 3 sessions so far.  In his first session, Mr Nenga spoke on good stewardship and accountability.  Each participant was given $1 to start their project.  As usual there is always mixed feelings on how little the money is to start a business.  Mr Nenga went on to teach the participants on the importance of record keeping so that they are able to track their progress.

 The 2^nd and 3^rd sessions saw the participants presenting their projects and how in a few weeks they have increased their cash on hand.  The projects included buying hair extensions at wholesale prices and reselling them in their communities, buying and reselling of perfumes and charcoal.  A different project is from a couple who bought flour to boost their samoosa making business.  They also took money from their personal savings to buy more ingredients to increase their output.  Their target market is school children and they sell them outside schools in their community.  All the businesses I mentioned are doing well.  The participants were also taught on how to pitch a business proposal in order to get more capital for their projects.

Makomborero gave the participants some clothes to help boost their businesses and this is always well received with gratitude.

 Looking forward to hearing more testimonies in the coming sessions.

• Breakdown of expenses (XLSX)