Over 450 women entrepreneurs from small and medium enterprises in Kenya have benefited from a training on knowledge, network and access, which are essential to grow their ventures.
The Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a project funded by the US-Embassy, has been operating in Kenya since 2017, and trains young and middle-aged women in business.
The AWE programme has been rolled out in Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru and Lamu counties by the Ushindi Empowerment group.
Speaking to the press, Biasha Seif who is the American Corner Mombasa Coordinator said that 30 cohorts from Mombasa County are to graduate after completing the course in which 120 women entrepreneurs from the four counties participated.
“Most of the participants are from small and medium businesses drawn from different sectors such as agribusiness, food, service and manufacturing that are aspiring to grow,” Seif said.
She said the participants were taken through a series of training, mentorship sessions and business pitching.
“Through the AWE programme participants learn core business skills like strategic planning, marketing and financial management and then apply those skills in classroom activities and experiential learning with mentors from the local business community,” she added.
Seif noted that the programme aims to support and develop businesspersons because they know women can be powerful, self-reliant and become engines of economic growth and job creation.
Thaiba Khatmi who operates a fashion business recounted her journey on how she gained experience and knowledge on how to pitch her business.
Khatmi got an award for capital seed funding which she used to venture into waste management business after emerging the top pitch awardee.
“If it was not for the programme I would not have the confidence on how to do business. I learnt how to be accountable, transparent and authentic when telling my story, I can also position myself out there as an entrepreneur who is open for opportunities,” she said.
She urged women in Mombasa to step out and be proactive when such opportunities come up.
By Chari Suche
