Training Boot-camps - Master Session

Integrated Education for Community Empowerment (IECE), organized a three days training workshop for its members who undertook different skills training like in fashion, soap and mask making. The workshop was organized to train the participants in extra skills that would help them cope during and after the pandemic by initiating different income generating venture / activities. I had the greatest honor to be chosen as the main facilitator. 

We covered the business model canvas, marketing skills, income generation activities, financial management and market research. Main objective To train selected beneficiaries on financial management and using Income Generating Activities (IGA) to create sustainable livelihoods during and post Covid-19. 

 Observations 

 It was clear that a percentage of the participants who had some form of businesses that were running didn’t have any formal plans for example a business plan or a simpler version using the business model canvas. On the other hand, their current business models were either started through; 

1.  A need to do something (get busy). 
2. Joblessness. 
3. The tough economic times before COVID-19. 
4. The pandemic situation during COVID-19. 
5. Make more money 

Generally, the sessions were big success whereby we also discussed on finding a reason to start a business through acquired skills, talent and the most important finding the need coming from the side of the customer’s perspective and way of life. 

It is important to understand and master the customer journeys if someone wants to succeed in any business, this could mean understanding; way of life, preference, shopping patterns, wants, needs etc. The success of any business depends on mastering the customer journey and by providing value that solve a problem. Eventually, you will grow a sustainable brand through repeat buying, referrals, product diversification etc. 

We looked at why many people find themselves trapped at the IDEA stage or even think that they aren’t good enough in coming up with great ideas. 

We used the I.D.E.A abbreviation to unpack the fears, myths and maximize on our potentials by understanding each letter as follows; · 

•  I – Identification phase: Identify what you need, what you need to do it, if there are other similar models, why people would need our services etc. 
• D- Design phase: Design an action plan on how you are going to operate etc. use the Business Model Canvas (BMC)
• E- Engagement Phase: Engage different stakeholders for more insights about our business model canvas (plan). 
• A- Activation Phase: Activate yourself and the idea. Less talk more on doing as you evaluate everything. Start small and with what you have or else you will never do anything. We came to a general conclusion that we don’t necessarily lack ideas but our most and biggest challenge is in how to activate ourselves and ideas. 

This means knowing when to start with what you have and finding the right resources to activate the idea. Lastly, we also learnt that if our work isn’t found out there it will be hard to be found and eventually your business would suffer. There is need for different marketing strategies to be deployed for one to get the right traction and lead for business. Get in touch with me for master session with your group especially in addressing the knowledge gap in the creative, technical and soft skills.

 Below are some of the pictures has captured using my mobile phone; +throughMylens!