Offer: Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts Development Program

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Tags:

• business
• entrepreneurship
• Fair Trade
• handcrafts
• training
• workshop

Growing Women-Owned Handcraft Businesses Through Product & Business Development
Training Workshop – Accra, Ghana, October 18 – 22, 2010

Vital Voices welcomes applications and nominations by individuals as well as nominations by embassies, international institutions, government agencies, business women’s networks and non-profit
organizations for participation in our Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts Development Program October 2010
Training Workshop with the generous support of the ExxonMobil Foundation. This workshop will
provide women handcraft business owners and business leaders with information and expertise in
product and export development. Vital Voices will cover all program costs, including international travel,
visa fees, local transportation, accommodation, meals, receptions and materials.

Applications are due to Vital Voices by May 31, 2010.

The Vital Voices Global Women Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts Development Program looks for extraordinary women who have the passion, the commitment, and the ability to positively change the future for their communities. The key objectives of our program are to (i) Improve the economic status of handcraft business women leaders (ii) Develop these leaders into better business women and (ii) Strengthen their leadership skills.

In our selection criteria, business-women joining our Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts Program must be: literate (written & spoken English, computer, email and basic book-keeping); from countries with developing economies; able and willing to teach and inspire others, open to feedback and willing to apply new ideas to her business. They must also have either an established handcraft export business or one that is export-ready.

Our program currently includes the following aspects:

• 5-day training workshop
• The development of a Vital Voices Global Handcraft Catalog
• Buyer introductions – introducing buyers to the handcraft businesses when suitable opportunities arise
• The development of working relationships between select handcraft businesses and high-profile international design and fashion houses as well as design schools.

During our 5-day training workshop, participants are provided with expert training which includes modules on: product design, development and evaluation; packaging and packing for export; financial management essentials; intellectual property rights; marketing and communications; export and international trade issues; costing and pricing for export and global product distribution.

Our participants learn from expert designers and marketers, as well as entrepreneurs who have developed successful businesses in this area. During the training program, experts and trainers evaluate samples of the participant’s products for aesthetic appeal, quality standards and price points, and advise them on how to appeal to the global consumer in addition to their own local customers.

Following the training program, the participants refine and expand their products and increase their production capacity to appeal to a wide-range of international wholesalers and retailers. Each business woman has the opportunity to have her products reach a much wider market and has the ability to expand and grow her business.

Contact:
Zoe Dean Smith, Senior Director, Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts Program, zoedean-smith@vitalvoices.org or zdean-smith@africaonline.co.sz
Kianoosh Tahbaz-Salehi, Program Assistant, Entrepreneurs in Handcrafts Program, kianooshtahbaz-salehi@vitalvoices.org