The “Capacity building for businesswomen and women entrepreneurs-to-be” project has been implemented in 15 communes and wards of 8 districts and city since June. This is an opportunity for businesswomen to systematically acquire the knowledge of business.
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The project management board’s staff total up the number of survey forms studying the demand of small-scale women entrepreneurs in 8 districts and city. Photo N.S
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A chance for new knowledge
The project which is financed by the United Way Worldwide aims to help members of the province’s Women’s Union who are the owners of small- and very small-scale enterprises and have prepared for starting a business acquire the basic knowledge of business.
The UWW offered 30,000 USD to the project, which is expected to be implemented within one year, from March, 2010 to March, 2011.
The provincial Women’s Unions of all levels have assisted their members in improving their living standard by making loans of 710 billion VND and helping 13,000 women overcome the poverty. Thanks to their assistance, many women now become entrepreneurs.
At present, 14 women entrepreneurs’ clubs have been set up across the province, attracting 600 women, let alone the province’s Women Entrepreneurs Association. However, dozens of women still haven’t got any chances to do business owing to the lack of capital and knowledge.
When being carried out in Binh Dinh, the project is, therefore, expected to improve small-scale women entrepreneurs’ knowledge of business management and gender equality, helping reduce poverty and eradicate hunger, improve the people’s living standard, and promote the women’s role in the socio-economic development.
Alongside these, it is also an opportunity for women unions at grass roots level to boost the network of women entrepreneurs clubs in the province, connect businesses with social activities, and attract more members.
Strive to achieve goals
The project management board coordinated with the women’s unions in 8 districts and city to carry out studies on the demands of 430 women who the owners of small- and very small-scale enterprises and businesswomen-to-be in 15 communes in early June.
Many of them showed great enthusiasm for the project as this is a chance for them to improve their understanding of business.
The initial results showed that the majority of small- and very small-scale women entrepreneurs wanted to be targeted on skills in starting a business and the knowledge of business management; whilst, the minority of medium-scale ones wanted to be offered the knowledge of constructing and developing their brand names.
The training courses will open at localities from late June to mid-September and there will be two “reality activities” afterwards, including a competition for participants and the support for the establishment of three small-scale women entrepreneurs’ club in districts of Hoai An, Phu My, and Phu Cat.
“Binh Dinh is the first province selected to join the project. We, thus, hope that the project will be effectively implemented,” said Chairwoman of Binh Dinh Women’s Union Pham Thi Thanh Hong. “Women are expected to be assisted in maintaining traditional crafts as well as developing household economy.”
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