Business Sewing Training

A two-day business training workshop was held in Murombedzi in June (2024) for 17 women. The classes were held in the recently completed Training Center at Home of Hope. The joy on their faces demonstrates their excitement and hope for the success of the businesses they are dreaming of and working toward.

The training covered critical areas of business, such as understanding costing and pricing of a product, determining a market, and developing customer service skills. The women who participated in the training learned a lot from role playing situations, such as interviewing customers.

In small groups the women discussed their ideas for possible sewing businesses. These groups will continue to meet throughout the coming months as the women work together to solve problems and fine tune their small businesses. The group members also hold each other accountable to keep careful records and repay their loans.

Participants said that some of the major lessons learned from the workshop included the need to separate money for family expenses from money for business, as well as writing out goals and targets in order to monitor progress. They also realized the need to market products through visiting customers, rather than waiting for customers to come to them.

Using the data from assessments made during the training, it was made clear which participants were ready for small-business loans. It was determined that these loans would be in terms of inputs and materials, rather than cash.

Since being trained in sewing at Home of Hope, some women in the community have already begun to generate income for their families. Their products include skirts, aprons, blouses, track suits, and school uniforms.

Rosie, one of the women, has developed a business strategy that will help her expand her market by seeking large orders directly from schools for track suits. Her goal is to provide a high quality product at an affordable price. Her vision is to become a leading supplier of track suits to schools. 

These three women proudly display their products. With their newly-acquired business training skills, they will be able to increase their revenue and ability to provide financially for their families.