Never Give Up!

The theme for our 2024 Reunion Small Business Training program was Never Give Up! Graduates from the past three years of small business training gathered at the Grace Center the week of October 15th to encourage each other with their stories of successes, analyze moments of failure and to learn how to prepare compost manure to help them produce enough food for their families.

The training sessions brought together small business participants from 2021, 2022, and 2023. It was an interactive and engaging meeting where participants spent the entire day learning from one another. There were group presentations, and a review of key topics from previous sessions.

It was great to see people sharing knowledge and experiences. By the end of the training, participants gained new insights, and those feeling discouraged were motivated to keep going.

One participant, Mavuto, shared that he had no prior knowledge of running a business and was working in someone’s garden to support his family. After joining the program, he now runs a small grocery store and has even managed to rent a farm, where he provides piecework opportunities for others in the community. Everyone was very inspired hearing his story.

Training in Permaculture and making compost was led by our Permaculture Garden team. Mrs. Mbalangwe continues to shine in her role teaching others how to grow their crops without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Participants in the training come from all parts of our community - families who have reintegrated children living in their homes, or orphans, church leaders, extremely vulnerable families whose children are often absent from school. We are working hard to build up our community and fulfill our mission to empower the poorest of the poor through Education and Community Development.

In conclusion, the Small Business Training Program held in October 2024 was a great success, with participants gaining valuable insights and practical skills. The theme “NEVER GIVE UP” resonated with everyone, as they left the training more motivated to grow their businesses. While some challenges were faced, the overall experience was positive, and the lessons learned will continue to benefit the participants in their entrepreneurial journeys.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the facilitators for their excellent guidance and to the participants for their commitment and enthusiasm throughout the training. Moving forward, we are confident that continued engagement and support will lead to even greater success for all involved.