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Our Approach
After enrolment in our program, the trainee women entrepreneurs must realize their own strengths and potentials first lie in the need to operate as a group so as to consolidate their resources. The first risk they take is to mobilize their own human resource. This risk comes in the form of time mobilization in a disciplined process. As they lend out to one another their time and positive attitude as a group, they are again taking a risk on one another. When women choose a micro-enterprise to engage in, they are deciding to take another risk. These decisions are the next building blocks toward regaining control of their own lives. The consequences of these decisions are solely theirs whether the result is success or failure. The development of their own policies and procedures, managing themselves as an organization, the operation of their savings and loan fund, the identification of the micro-enterprise, the planning, the management and control of their chosen micro-enterprise enhance their skills as well as their sense of confidence in themselves. As a consequence, they achieve an increasing level of a sense of control over their business, their finances and their own lives. In short, micro-enterprise development is Important for the empowerment process to occur.
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Enterprise Development:
Rural Women play an important role within, the village economy since they engage in micro-enterprises. Once women realize their own potentials, they are able to raise their own resources and develop the capacity to manage external resources as well. Through Project Africa’s Enterprise development project, rural women are given an opportunity conceptualise business ideas, mobilise their own resources and manage loans from external sources, such as those provided through the project revolving fund. The Women themselves are challenged to learn by doing and earning. They should be determined to address common weaknesses and constraints of their micro-enterprises and to take risks in adopting innovative approaches in problem-solving. In certain instances, after two years of membership in Project Africa’s Cottage Industry, they are able to build up enough business skills and confidence to source their capital and invest in their on lines of enterprises.
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