TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: An initiative between a national NGO and the GCCI to interact and encourage aspiring entrepreneurs evoked a good response with 16 people coming forward to be trained and receive advice. The initiative by I Create India, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with Human Touch, a youth led NGO and Positive People conducted a five days “Aspiring Entrepreneurs Workshop” (AEW) recently at the Institute de Nossa Senhora de Piedade, Panaji.
Around 15 participants, from marginalized communities, like people living with and affected with HIV and the slum communities, attended this workshop. The aim of the workshop was to promote entrepreneurship development training to this community, thereby encouraging a sense of self-employment and entrepreneurship in them.
Peter F Borges, Founder of Human Touch said, “Impact mitigation is one of our thematic areas where we try to improve the quality of life of PLHIV and those affected by HIV and AIDS. Some beneficiaries who we cater to in our programmes, face severe socio-economic consequences including exclusion, marginalization and poverty and are acutely burdened by increased illnesses, loss of jobs and income, rising medical expenses, depletion of savings, social exclusion and imminent impoverishment that is often irreversible.
Given these realities and the need for a regular income for these communities to meet their escalating expenses, this workshop was a structured attempt to help them plan for a comprehensive and creative sources of livelihood.
Through this workshop, participants were taken through various topics such as networking, negotiations, cash flow, income and expenditure statements, etc in simple steps, to encourage them to start small independent entrepreneurial ventures.
The workshop ended with participants presenting business plans as a team. There was a visible transformation in the confidence levels of participants. Some of the participants who have existing businesses both in the organised and unorganised sectors, shared that after learning about business financials, like the income and expense statement, cash flow management, etc, aimed at improving and expanding their businesses. Some who are currently undergoing training in tailoring have expressed their plans to start their own business ventures on completion of their course.
In coordination with Human Touch, I Create will have follow up sessions with participants, to reinforce concepts learned, clarify doubts and provide mentorship to these budding entrepreneurs.
