As part of its program to empower the local community, Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya has launched the Economic Upliftment Project. On 18 February 2008, Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya (BMMK) began a series of training workshops for women on business and leadership skills to improve their individual and group businesses.
The topics covered at the workshops included:
- Introduction to Business
- Managing A Group Business
- Problem Solving Techniques
- SWOT Analysis
- Model Projects
- Introduction of 6Ps, namely - People, Product, Place, Promote, Plan
- Book Keeping
- Record Keeping
- Introduction to Savings
A Community trainer, who has been working with women groups and has been extensively involved as a Trainer in mobilizing groups to initiate income generating activities, was assigned to visit six selected Centres. Her brief was to meet the Community, familiarize herself with the area and undertake a survey of viable projects for Economic upliftment.
In her reports, she recommended that prior to undertaking Income generating program, BMMK should commence with group formation, training and savings club mobilization. Thereafter, group funds be provided for group or individual income generating ventures.
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On 4 June to 15 June 2007, BMMK embarked on training for business management, savings mobilization and leadership skills to Bilal Muslim Women Group of Mackinon Road Centre Kwale District. The purpose of the workshop was to train women groups with business and leadership skills which will improve their individual and group businesses. This includes organizing and managing groups, identifying and running a profitable business and handling customers.
The training lasted ten days. In the first four days, business management training was conducted. This was followed by savings mobilization training whereby the women grouped together in a savings club. The training taught women how to save by keeping the small amount she gets from her small individual business.
Leadership training was also conducted. The purpose of this was to equip the woman with leadership skills to enable them to understand their roles and to run their group effectively.
Results
A Savings club has been formed and members are making regular contributions. A Group project on buying and selling of traditional goats has been set up. Baseline data for business project proposals from selected women has also been received.
Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya would like to thank all those involved in this training programme. The next training session will inshallah be held for the Rural Centre of Burani in September 2008. A special thanks also goes to the Federation of KSI Jamats of Africa for sponsoring the Economic Upliftment Training Program.