Training and Consulting Unit Achievements
CCE’s Training and Consulting Unit works with all three sectors; private, public and NGOs and within each of these areas, we've had major achievements. However, we would like to highlight one of the most rewarding programs we offered.
Entrepreneurship training program for women artisans: This programs was implemented for CHF International, in the frame of its POWER Program, which was focused on facilitating Palestinian women’s entrepreneurship through policy reform, advocacy, capacity building, business training, and networking activities.
The scope of the project consisted of training and counseling for four target groups of women artisans selected by CHF. The aim of the project was to enhance the entrepreneurial behavior and business skills of the women artisans, through the introduction of business fundamentals as well as key entrepreneurship points. The program provided basic tools as well as on-the-job counseling to develop strategies and business plans.
Program achievements:
- Curricula and training material were developed utilizing Best Training Practices, and were introduced to trainers and CHF officers during a four-day Training of Training workshop.
- Four training courses, each of them lasting 50 hours, were delivered to the target groups in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Al Samou’/Hebron, and Khan Younis/Gaza. Totally, 100 women working in different handicrafts as traditional embroidery, garment production, glass painting, flower making, and painting, attended the training.
- Simultaneously with the training, CCE trainers were counseling and supervising participating women on their business plans development. At the end of the training, participants from each region presented their business plans to and get feedback from the evaluation panels represented by business specialists from CHF, CCE and lending institutions. Women who expected to borrow funds for their business had an opportunity to get individual consultancy from agents of lending institutions and to apply for the loans on the spot.
- Following CCE's rules, at the conclusion of the training participants evaluated training material, methodology, trainers, and logistics. Along with high appraisals, women expressed their attitude towards the training with comments that reflected the importance and necessity of programs, which help such women in transforming them from being artisans heavily dependent on intermediaries into real entrepreneurs with success stories. Some of these comments are worth mentioning:
- "I was not very optimistic with the new year, but this training session gave me the hope for a new beginning and improving my project"
- "The training workshop had opened new horizons for me beyond what I was thinking of"
- "I am thinking to start a collective project with a group of women, whose I have met at the training. We are going to have our own Bazaar. Now we know our strengths and weaknesses, know the market, and how to survey it. Therefore, instead of being used by other organizations that take high commissions, we can have our own business and have our own marketing plans and channels.”
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