By Goodluck Ikiebe
A Non Governmental Organisation, Project START by Mumsbooth, says it has trained over 1,246 women and 514 children since inception five years ago.
The founder, Martha Tawiyah, told Newsmen during its fifth anniversary in Abuja that it is a program that was born out of the need to help another woman do something for her self, help her start a business by training her on different skills: Vocational, Entrepreneurial, Digital and Business skills.
"Not only do we train them, we follow them up and ensure they get started".
According to her, "the first edition of this program held on October 26th 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria and we have since had 19 Editions so far in different cities like Abuja, Kano, Uyo, Jos and Kampala in Uganda and have had several virtual sessions reaching many women across different cities in Nigeria and beyond".
"We have trained 1,246 women and 514 kids so far and many of them have gone on to start their businesses as a result of these programs. We also have an online community where we follow up with our women, push them, train them further to help their businesses grow", Tawiyah added.
"We have sourced for soft loans and grants for our women to help their businesses and also provided starter kits to help them get started with their businesses"
Speaking on getting their products in the international market, "we have had some of our women train with Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, on how they can export their products to increase their sales".
Martha Tawiyah explained that women across Africa can now take digital courses from a partnering organisation through its platform and earn a recognized certificate that can boost their resume and help their businesses grow.
"Our entrepreneurship trainings have impacted the beneficiaries. The testimonies are numerous! Right after our training program, at least 35% went on to start their businesses and through our community we are happy to say over 50% of the women are running and building their businesses right now", She noted.
"We took the training beyond Nigeria to Uganda recently where the women in Uganda received us well and were truly thankful for the Project START by Mumsbooth program.
We had amazing partners that made this program a success from women owned organisations. The United Nations Kampala, Uganda and the Indonesian Embassy were also represented in the program.
Many women old and young left empowered and with a lot of zeal to get started with their businesses and the very next week we had testimonies from some of them that kicked off their businesses as a result of the training they had received.
They have also taken the digital courses on our platform and earned certificates as well.
For the children, we have had 5 Editions for the kids out of the 19 Editions .
"During the celebration of our 5th anniversary, we saw the kids share their experiences. Parents are constantly sharing their testimonies with us.
"They talk about how their kids are keen on learning a skill, constantly asking to learn further and practice what they have learned. A few other kids speak of businesses they have started with the supervision of their parents".
According to Tawiyah, "One parent told me she is really pleased that we are instilling this mindset in them early so she sets out time every weekend for her daughter to practice bead making every weekend.
"How about the confidence and art of public speaking our Project START kids have learned in our previous editions? They learned a lot in that edition and are bolder now to speak on any topic.
"I am proud of the impact we are making and that we are starting early enough in the lives of these kids".
"For the past 5 years, the Project START by Mumsbooth programs have been sustained through personal funds, and few donations from friends and well wishers. So we will keep pushing and we hope for more partnership and support as we are optimistic that we can achieve a whole lot more and reach more women and children with more resources and funding"
Martha Tawiyah remarked that, we are happy and thankful for what we have done the past 5 years in our community. We say a big thank you to all our partners, volunteers and everyone that have believed in this project and we hope to reach more women and children in the future.
"To every woman out there, I want to ask you to START that thing you have always wanted to do. START that business that will bring extra income to your family. It all starts with a plan, it starts with a pen and a paper. Write it down and get started with the little you have in your hand and grow it", Tawiyah concluded.
Our Correspondent reports that Mumsbooth is an Empowerment Initiative organisation that is committed towards empowering women and Children in Africa.
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