Kenya Women Finance Trust Brings Business Clubs Closer to SME'S
Joined- up thinking creates links to global customers, so do smooth operators get taste for healthy profits and at KWFT we know this. The founding meeting of a new business club of substance was held on May 29th 2008.
Even recession, it seems, cannot diminish the frenzy of the KWFT client and admirer. The KWFT Business Club, as it is known, demonstrated: They came in numbers, for the founding meeting which called for a roll-out in all regions that KWFT operates. We are talking over 500 members currently and we are only 7 months old!
"In 2009, KWFT plans to intensify work with the medium level women and businesses through KWFT women Business Clubs. This is an attempt to serve the missing middle in business. Membership to KWFT Women Business Clubs is all women entrepreneurs at the missing middle who own and manage middle level businesses that are registered companies. This approach will ensure that the club enhances value addition,” observed Dr. Jennifer Riria, KWFT CEO.
KWFT has now begun its countrywide SME business clubs roll, the first being Mt. Kenya West chapter, which opens opportunities for business women in this region to join one of Kenya’s widest footprint microfinance network - KWFT. Nyeri serves as the regional office for Mt. Kenya West and KWFT members are derived across all markets thus a fulfilling experience sharing that will see business women in the region network to grow their business nationally and internationally.
"The Nairobi Region chapter was launched in November; the Rift Valley region in August and Nyanza chapter in May. The Coast, Western and Eastern regions will follow. Our areas of emphasis will be opportunities for marketing and deepening linkages, businesses networking and business expansion strategies," noted Pauline Ngari, the GM Operations at KWFT.
This initiative will incorporate training and knowledge sharing which lacks in many of the existing clubs.
The KWFT Business Club will operate like any other business club with regular meetings for updates, experience sharing , exposure sharing locally and internationally. The club will have other chapters in all KWFT regions nationally and looks forward to an increased membership with time.
The initiative is an enhanced attempt to achieve its development objective which focuses on enhancing capacity in women entrepreneurs in order to equip them in identifying their current strengths and potential, as well as being able to scan their business environment for opportunities and threats.
"A strategy will help anyone in business prepare a realistic vision for the future of their business and in doing so can maximize one's business' potential for growth. KWFT emphasizes on client training and acquisition of business knowledge in the business world. KWFT wants women entrepreneurs to know that once they’ve embraced progress and identified the key growth areas that they want to target, it’s time to revisit a business plan and make it a road map to the next stages for their business," said Dr. Riria.
Josephine Gathoni who runs a diagnostic laboratory and who was in the founding forum in May 2008 was particularly inspired by the concept of KWFT Business Clubs because SME's find it very expensive to undertake training for themselves and their staff. "Very few of us can afford these trainings and group meetings have no learning's and experiences", she said.
"It is apparent that entrepreneurs are looking for a real partner who will recognize and support entrepreneurship spirit and that entrepreneurship spirit does not necessarily mean to access funds only. They want mentorship, life lines that they can contact when stuck in business, and KWFT is here to serve them," notes Dr. Riria.
KWFT is the largest national micro-finance institution with a capacity of accessing sustainable financial and non- financial services to economically active, low income women entrepreneurs, and a deep rural penetration, making it the best choice for the missing middle. It is for this reason that all products and activities are designed for women entrepreneurs to improve their social and economic status and those of their families. KWFT serves women in both urban and rural areas through its National network of 142 offices. |
