Philip Tenz
Choghsia (UW/R), July 1, GNA – Over 30 women from rural areas of Wa West District have been trained in business development skills to strengthen their small trade and business activities to earn a decent livelihood.
The training was organised by Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev) and funded by the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the Forest Farming Facility (FFF) Direct Beneficiary Grant Project.
The women beneficiaries were selected from women's groups and organisations in over 10 communities participating in the FFF project, including Tendoma, Talawonchere, Motoli, Gyunookla, Meteu and Dakori communities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training in Chogsia, Wa West district, ISRuDev Executive Director Philemon Don Uro said he had trained the women in making soap and soybean cakes (kebabs) and was now working with some of them to process shea butter.
He said he hoped the skills training they received would help them grow their businesses and be able to reap the benefits.
Don Uro said the women are expected to undergo graded training for the members of the group.
“For those who don't have a business yet, I hope the knowledge gained here will inspire them to start something. We know that women have a vital role to play in helping families grow.”
“Hence, by empowering women, they will be able to provide for their families and contribute towards raising their children properly, including supporting their education,” he explained.
The Director General said that due to the difficulty in getting the product to market some women have given up on continuing the business and hence ISRuDev will connect women, especially those involved in shea butter processing, to markets.
Don Uro added that the NGO was working towards introducing a credit system to financially support the women so they could continue their businesses.
He said they had to do so because the loans they received from the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) were not enough for the businesses the women were running, such as making shea butter and soap.
The training was led by Vincent Akandi, Small Business Development Officer at Vibrant Village Foundation, who instructed the women on business idea and planning, the “4Ps” of marketing (product development, price, promotion and place), basic business accounting and record-keeping.
He also introduced the women to personal hygiene, care and safety, good customer relations, risk factors in running a business and how to manage those factors.
Akandi encouraged the women to support each other in their business endeavors so that they can grow together and contribute immensely to the development of their communities.
Gifty Theongzhele, a participant from the Tendomo community, said the training was a revelation in her business management.
Theonzjere, a soap maker, said he had not kept records of his business activities in the past and poor management of his business sometimes led to financial losses.
Guna