Train-the-Trainer: Investing in Eswatini’s Leaders
Without the opportunity to make it a reality, a dream remains unattainable—an illusion of what could be. That’s why we believe business training is one of the best ways to help entrepreneurs and business owners pursue their dreams. In fact, it’s one of our four strategic activities.
Developing skills in areas like budgeting, branding, and management proves to be invaluable to entrepreneurs. It equips them with the skills, knowledge, and support system they need to launch or grow their business.
Together with our local partners, we provide business training in 27 countries around the world.
But before we offer business training, we first must train the trainers who facilitate the business training courses. To do so, we host Train-the-Trainer workshops.
Sometimes the leaders and staff of our partner institutions also participate in Train-the-Trainer workshops. This allows them to gain expert knowledge of our business training curriculum, as well as sharpen their own business skills.
The staff of AfricaWorks in Eswatini (AWS), our local partner in Eswatini, recently participated in a Train-the-Trainer workshop for this purpose. They were unsure of what to expect, but they found the workshop to be both informative and inspiring. They were able to learn new skills while refocusing on their individual dreams and passions.
In their words, hear how the Train-the-Trainer workshop impacted these local leaders:
Nkosinathi Dlamini, Community Facilitator, Honey Value Chain
The workshop was an eye opener. As a new employee (of AWS), I learned about Partners Worldwide and its strategic activities (training, mentoring, advocacy, and access to capital). I was thrilled to learn how to develop a vision, mission statement, and core values. Now I am able to organize my life, especially on planning and time management. I was struggling to do proper planning and personal budgeting before.
As a youth chairperson in my community, I have also been equipped to train the youths in my community on business management, thereby adding value to their lives.
Khanyisile Mamba, Accounts Clerk
In this workshop, I have learned that I should teach my children about savings and investment. I also learned that record keeping and managing cashflow are critical factors in building a sustainable business. Thank you so much to Partners Worldwide and AfricaWorks for this wonderful learning experience.
Daniel Mazibuko, Assistant Administrator
The workshop was inspiring and motivated me to take business management seriously. I thought I needed a lot of money to start a business, yet a change in mindset was the major transformation I needed in my life. The lessons on customer care and pricing were also of great value. This workshop will help me in establishing strong and viable businesses.
Vimbai Kapurura, Program Administrator
The training was so informative and enlightening. I recently opened a restaurant and so the training came at the right time for me as I quickly noticed the mistakes I was making. It was quite scary to realize that even though you might have a degree in finance, without mastering the concept of business planning, you can easily run a business without making profit. I am also going to use the knowledge I acquired to help businesspeople in the communities I work with through AfricaWorks.
Sandile Bhembe, Accounts Clerk
I learned a lot during the workshop. Now I have a better understanding of how to run a successful business. It changed the way I thought about business, especially the “business as mission” concept. I had a business plan which I did and never finished—now I am equipped to complete it. I am also thinking of using the material I learned to educate my parents on how to run a profitable and sustainable business. I am grateful for the value the training has added into my life!
Nokuthanda Moyo, Entrepreneurship Trainer
When I was invited for the workshop, I thought that I wouldn’t learn anything new as I have attended similar workshops before and teach entrepreneurship to others. So I prepared myself for boredom, but from the first day when I saw the program and manuals, I was reeling with shock! I have never linked the Bible with business in this way. It has been a mind-blowing experience.
Not only will I empower communities, my family will be empowered and I have been empowered as well. I am making arrangements to speak to the youth in my church regarding starting micro-enterprises and the importance of saving. I am now more determined to start the projects I have put on hold over the years. I learned to not wait for things to happen, but to make things happen!
Join us in investing in the dreams of local leaders and entrepreneurs. A gift of $100 provides business training for a farmer or entrepreneur—equipping them to make their dreams a reality. Thank you for your faithful support!
June 28, 2017