dfcu MD Juma reaffirms dfcu's commitment to empowering women entrepreneur
There is certainly a rising number of successful women doing business in Uganda, all trading at different levels as they defy stereotypes to make it and contribute to Uganda’s economy.
Much as most women are successful, many fail too or give up for various reasons. According to research done by Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Ltd (UWEAL), women own 45% of businesses in Uganda and are champions of change, but the gap between success and failure widens with various challenges among which are; access and cost of credit as one of the biggest barriers, exposure of their businesses and access to markets among others.
It is against this background that Daily Monitor in partnership with dfcu bank’s Women in Business Program and Uganda Investment Authority-UIA are carrying out an initiative dubbed ‘Rising Woman’ under the theme ‘Taking your business ahead’ to recognize, celebrate and promote a culture of mentorship among women in business in Uganda.
Over the years dfcu has supported women in business who have succeeded and now own inspirational stories of success.
The partnership therefore entails celebrating the unsung heroes and inspiring other women at different stages of the same journey. A series of activities under this initiative are planned to take place from the launch date till September 2018. Some of the activities and takeaways will include power talks countrywide, mentorship programs, business Expo, exposure trip and cash prizes among others.
Trainings / Power talks
The main objective is to enable women entrepreneurs to utilize appropriate business skills, information and services aimed at achieving a sustainable and competitive private sector in the long run. Entrepreneurs are taken through the skills of running and sustaining an enterprise. Technical Skills program is aimed at building capacities of women so that they may acquire the necessary basic skills to produce improved and high quality products that fetch high monetary values thus improving house hold income and promoting industrialization. Training areas include; textile, shoe making, bakery, soap making, agro-processing, candle making, art and craft, paper manufacturing, maize processing, fish processing, making sanitary towels, production of jelly, processing of bottled water, oil seed extraction, wine processing, sesame processing, honey processing, fruit drying and packaging, silage and hay production, poultry feeds making, ginger processing, soya milk processing, tooth brush making and paint manufacturing among others.
Trainings will be conducted for two days in each region training 100 participants per day. Over 1000 women are expected to benefit from this imitative.
Business Expo
In September a 2-day expo will be carried out in Kampala to crown off as women showcase some of their products.
The expo will be free of charge for a select set of the members under the initiative and at a cost for non-members.
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