Business Training Program For Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs at training event

AS YOU KNOW by my previous post, CHOI non-profit was promoting among clients of its Micro Lending program, the business training program headed to entrepreneurs and people interested in that area. Partnerships and alliances that are made among different organizations in order to combine efforts to achieve a common goal, are a phenomenon that has occurred frequently in recent years. In that context, three local organizations: Commerce and Production Chamber of Santa Province, Development Finance Corporation (COFIDE) and Corporate Talent Organizational Consultant, have partnered to focus on training for entrepreneurs.

As partners, they set up a 9-weeks business training series for free for those interested in business, which held thursdays nights. Mr. Orlando Bermúdez together with borrowers of CHOI's Micro Lending program participated at meetings.

Here are the topics that were taught:

• Business plan.
• Marketing plan.
• Entrepreneurial culture.
• Small business accounting.
• Myths stopping entrepreneurial spirit.
• Keys to business success.
• Creativity and innovation.
• Development of business ideas.
• Development of business opportunities.

At the end of the training process, participants who attended all the meetings were given a participación certificate.

--------------- Traducción al Español ---------------

PROGRAMA DE CAPACITACIÓN EMPRESARIAL A EMPRENDEDORES

Después de concluído uno
de los jueves empresariales

COMO USTEDES sabes por mi anterior post, la organización sin fines de lucro CHOI estuvo promoviendo entre los clientes de su programa de Micro Préstamo, el programa de capacitación empresarial dirigido a emprendedores y personas interesadas en área de negocios. Las asociaciones y alianzas que se hacen entre diferentes organizaciones con el propósito de combinar esfuerzos para lograr un objetivo común, son un fenómeno que ha ocurrido frecuentemente en los últimos años. En ese contexto, tres organizaciones locales: Cámara de Comercio y Producción de la Provincia del Santa, Corporación Financiera de Desarrollo (COFIDE) y la Consultora Empresarial Talento Corporativo se han asociado para enfocarse en la capacitación a los emprendedores.

Como socios, organizaron una serie de eventos de capación empresarial de 9 semanas completamente gratis para los interesados en el mundo de los negocios, la cual se llevó a cabo los jueves por la noche. Orlando Bermúdez junto con los prestatarios del programa de Micro Préstamos de CHOI participaron en las reuniones.

Éstos son los temas que se enseñaron:

• Plan de negocios.
• Plan de marketing.
• Cultura emprendedora.
• Contabilidad para pequeñas y medianas empresas.
• Mitos que frenan el espíritu emprendedor.
• Claves para el éxito de los negocios.
• Creatividad e innovación.
• Desarrollo de ideas de negocio.
• Desarrollo de oportunidades de negocio.

Al final del proceso de capacitación, a los participantes que asistieron a todas las reuniones se les concedió un certificado de participación.

Click on the image below or on the link to see more PICTURES. (Haga click en la imagen de abajo o en el enlace para ver más fotos)

Inviting Entrepreneurs To Business Training

Susy and a client of  CHOI's Micro
Lending program

IN ORDER TO promote entrepreneurial culture and develop business skills in Chimbote residents; Commerce and Production Chamber of Santa Province, Development Finance Corporation (COFIDE) and Corporate Talent Organizational Consultant, within framework of the partnership subscribed among them, set up a series of training events for free on different topics related to the business area, which were headed to micro and small entrepreneurs and people interested in that field. Each topic was developed on Thursdays night during 9 weeks at Commerce Chamber facilities located in Chimbote.

On the other hand, the Micro Lending program from CHOI -granting loans to people longing start a small business or improve an existing one- in its concern to provide not only loans but tools assisting its borrowers in their efforts to advance their business; was promoting, encouraging and inviting its clients to participate at this training program to acquire knowledge and apply it to their own businesses.

One of the scholars of CHOI's educational program Dollars For Scholars and Leaders For Tomorrow, Susy Meza -studying accounting- was willing to visit houses of clients of CHOI's Micro Lending program to let them know on this training program by handing them out invitation and training meetings schedule.

--------------- Traducción al Español ---------------

INVITANDO A EMPRENDEDORES A CAPACITACIÓN

Invitando a cliente del
prog. de préstamo de CHOI

CON EL PROPÓSITO de promover la cultura emprendedora y el desarrollo de capacidades de negocio en la población de Chimbote; la Cámara de Comercio y Producción de la Provincia del Santa, la Corporación Financiera de Desarrollo (COFIDE) y la Consultora Empresarial Talento Corporativo, dentro del marco del acuerdo suscrito entre ellos, organizaron una serie de eventos de capacitación gratuita sobre diferentes temas relacionados al área de negocios, el cual estuvo dirigida a los micro y pequeños empresarios y a las personas interesadas en ese campo. Cada tema fue desarrollado los jueves por la noche, durante 9 semanas, en el auditorio de la Cámara de Comercio ubicado en Chimbote.

Por otro lado, el programa de micro préstamo de CHOI -que otorga préstamos a las personas que desean empezar un pequeño negocio o mejorar uno existente- en su preocupación de proveer no sólo préstamos sino herramientas que apoyen a sus prestatarios en sus esfuerzos de hacer progresar sus negocios; estuvo promoviendo, animando e invitando a sus clientes a participar en este programa de capacitación para adquirir conocimientos y aplicarlos a sus propios negocios.

Una de las becarias del programa educativo de CHOI Dólares para Escolares y Líderes del Mañana, Susy Meza -estudiante de contabilidad- estuvo dispuesta a visitar las casas de los clientes del programa de Micro Préstamos de CHOI para informarles sobre este programa de capacitación entregándoles la invitacion y el cronograma de las reuniones de capacitación.

Click on the image below or on the link to see more PICTURES. (Haga click en la imagen de abajo o en el enlace para ver más fotos)

CHOI Training Event - Day 2

CONTINUING WITH the two-day training event organized by CHOI, which was headed to customers of one of its programs called Micro lending and all people interested in it, and having been held the first day of training on Friday, February 26th, 2010 now I would like to share with you all about the second day of training that took place on Monday, March 01st, 2010 at 3:30 pm in Youth House here in Chimbote. The session was opened by the administrator of CHOI Mr. Orlando Bermúdez.

The main speaker was Mr. Jorge Villar Reyes, who is a business administrator and past manager (2004 - 2006) of the Asociación Civil Apoyo Familiar ACAF (Family Support Civil Association) an association that operates under direction of The non-profit organization called Los Amigos del Padre Juan (The Father Jack's Friends.) Mr. Jorge was sharing with attendees the topic: Marketing for Enterpreneurs. Here are some items that Mr. Jorge Villar shared:

• A look at market
• What do other businesses offer that small businesses don't?
• Against whom we compete?
• What is marketing?
• Practical functions of marketing
• Creative marketing
• If you use marketing, can you attract customers?
• Let's analyze your business: Who are your customers? do you know who your competition is? what is the value of your products or services?
• Marketing mix
• Do satisfied customers always return?
• Main elements to succeed in your business
• Ideas to generate more sales in your business, etc.

This way the two day training event was performed having on mind sowing seeds for creation of new small business and strengthening existing ones.

Click on the image below or on the link to see more PICTURES.

CHOI Training Event - Day 1

AS YOU MUST KNOW, the non-profit organization called Chimbote Oportunidades Ilimitadas - CHOI, was promoting a Training Event headed to clients of its Micro Lending program and those interested in getting to know a little more about how to start a small business or improve the one existing in order to generate self-sustainability and independence and so getting better their living quality for them to live with dignity. The event was planned taking into account one of the goals of CHOI, which is to finance Small and Medium enterprises and also to train microentrepreneurs; since we consider these factors as priority issues for development of families and their communities, letting us to continue working together.

So, within this framework, the two-day training started from Friday, February 26th, 2010. The first session was held that day and the second one on Monday, March 01st, 2010 at 3:30 pm. The event took place at La Casa de la Juventud (Youth house) located in H-4 Antenor Orrego village - Chimbote, a place lent by municipality and where all of CHOI programs are running at the moment. The main speakers the first session were Mr. Orlando Bermúdez (Peruvian, CHOI administrator) and Mr. Thomas J. DeMarco (an American volunteer from Minnesota-USA)

The first speaker, Mr. Orlando Bermúdez, started his presentation introducing people get involved in the event. He took his time to develop the first theme of the agenda which was Presentation of the Civil Association CHOI "Chimbote oportunidades Ilimitadas" (Chimbote Unlimited Opportunities). He was talking about the early days of CHOI and its main goals. Also he shared about CHOI programs such as: Chimbote Healthy Port, Dollars for Scholars and Leaders for Tomorrow, University Library, Pre-University Academy, Micro Lending, etc. and other possible proyects as papercrete (paper + concrete) to make bricks.

The second speaker Mr. Thomas J. DeMarco, an American volunteer who is studying Administration of Non-profit Organizations, International Business and Spanish Language, was sharing with attendees about the second theme Importance of Teamwork. He spent some time in Republica Dominicana doing Community Work with local residents. There he was supporting people, by sharing very important information, for them to be able to form their own small business using their gifts, talents and abilities.

In this event he also shared many of his experiences on his work in Republica Dominicana in order to motivate and train attendance. Thus, the first session was held and attendees were very pleased with all information they received that day.

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Micro Lending: Story 5

DEYSI VEGA RIOS IS a 40-year-old lady. Her husband's name is Cruz Valdiviezo Paz and is 43 years old. Both have 3 children: 15-year-old Carolay, 12-year-old Jeanpierre and 7-year-old Benjamín. They all live in H-19 San Miguel humble village in Chimbote-Perú. Five years ago, in 2005, she started sewing and making some clothes for those who asked her using an old sewing machine. She only counted on her personal efforts and assets. She started working sewing in a small market called "Los Israelitas" located in 10 de Setiembre neighborhood near her house.

Even though she did her best to save some money and so to equip the best way her small business however she could not do it because all the money she earned was used to face family expenses. At that time she need urgently a looping machine and a coater machine for her small business to begin to grow and this way generating its self-sustainability. It was necessary for her to get a loan to be able to buy these machines otherwise her small business would not emerge.

On this context and through a friend, she heard about a non-profit organization called CHOI here in Chimbote and located near her house offering micro loans, through one of its programs, for those needing a micro loan to improve their small business. So, she went to the office of the Micro Lending program and after getting to know a little more about the program she applied for a micro loan.

She received her first micro loan on April 20, 2006 and she used this resource to buy some working materials she need urgently. She applied for the second micro loan and received it on December 27, 2007. She used it to buy haberdashery (thread, buttons, little scissors, etc.) So, now she started selling haberdasheries. Her small business was going well and she applied for her third micro loan which she received it on November 27, 2008 which she used to buy a looping machine.

She applied for the fourth micro loan and received it on December 28, 2009 and she could buy a coater machine. Her small business started growing little by little and she moved to another market located in La Victoria neighborhood where she has her stand located at a corner. Thanks to micro loans received from the program her small business is going well so far. She doesn't have to worry about giving maintenance her machines becuase her husband does that work since he is an expert in sewing machine maintenance.

In a near future she would like to be a provider of clothing for institutions such as schools, universities, enterprises, etc. and she is working hard to get that goal. Presently she makes clothes for those who ask her. Also she has, in her stand, a business of phone call and her older daughter works with her.

Click on the image below or on the link to see more PICTURES.

Micro Lending: Story 4

THROUGH THIS NEW POST, I would like to share with you all the story of another entrepreneur person who, with a bit of support and encouragement, is becoming a person who is overcoming difficulties in her family life. She was born here in Chimbote, Perú. Her name is Vilma Carbajal Mercedes and is 35 years old. She lives in F-5, 10 de Setiembre human settlement, a place located among many poor neighborhoods in Chimbote. She is a single mother and has 2 children. A boy named 13-year-old Jeancarlos Rocha Carbajal and a girl named 12-year-old Dayana Rocha Carbajal.

As a single mother she had to work hard to provide for her children and herself. Twelve years ago, in 1998, she did her best and was able to get $50.00 and with this money she started selling lingerie, underpants, socks, etc. She bought these products from a supplier here in Chimbote at first but after some months she herself started traveling to Lima (capital of Perú) to get her products to sell since she got them cheaper there. At that time she had no her own house so, because of this, she had on mind to buy a land to be, in time, the family house.

She could come true her dream so she bought a land and even got her ownership title on January 30, 2003 but this, some way or another, affected her small business financially speaking because she had to take money of her business to be able to buy the land. Even so she did not give up and kept traveling to Lima to buy merchandise but it was evident her small business was not going very well as before, on the contrary it was urgent to get financial suppor to refloat the business.

In these circumstances she, through some neighbors, heard about the Micro lending program of CHOI and talked to its director about getting a micro loan for her small business. The program, on behalf of its director, was willing to assist her so, Mrs. Vilma received her first micro loan on February 06, 2004. With this help she was able, little by little, to refloat her small business.

She applied for another micro loan, the second, and received it on November 26, 2004. Things started going well and she applied for her third micro loan and received it on July 27, 2006. As the time went by the small business was growing and she was encouraged to apply for her fourth micro loan which she received it on July 27, 2008 but after some months she received the micro loan, in January 2009, unfortunately some thieves stole all her merchandise. In this situacion the micro lending program gave her some facilities and addicional support for her to face the difficult moment and also her financial duties.

Because of her persistence and perseverance she could overcome those bad times and her small business started growing little by little once more and so, she applied for her fifth micro loan which she received it on December 16, 2009. Presently she continues to work hard to make her business successful. Her small business is located inside her house. She is very thankful to the micro lending program for all the support she received.

Click on the image below or on the link to see more PICTURES.

Invitation To Training

THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Chimbote Oportunidades Ilimitadas (CHOI), through its Micro Lending program, has organized a training event headed to customers of the program and general public; it means, to all people interested in establishing or improving a small business through which they are able to generate self-sustainability and independence seeking this way getting better their quality of life. The event will take place in La Casa de la Juventud in Antenor Orrego village (where CHOI and the offices of its programs are located), on Friday February 26 and Monday March 01, 2010 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Speakers will be Mr. Orlando Bermúdez (director of CHOI), Mr. Percy Segura (leader of Micro Lending program) and Mr. Thomas DeMarco (a volunteer from Minnesota-USA). So, in order to publicize the event Mr. Percy, Mr. Thomas and me (Pablo Beltrán) had to go to the customers' houses to let them know, in advance and through an invitation document, about the training. We went through several neighborhoods or villages to fulfill our goal. That was a long day but we can get to many houses. Here are the topics of the event:

Introducing Chimbote Unlimited opportunities - CHOI: Benefits for clients and Micro lending association.
Importance of Teamwork.
Business Clinic - Marketing for Entrepreneurs.

Click on the image below or on the link to see more PICTURES.

Micro Lending: Story 3

MANUEL ALEJANDRO MEDINA CASTAÑEDA is a single young man who is 24 years old. He lives in T-4 La Victoria neighborhood here in Chimbote with his mother: Mrs. Rosa Castañeda Rubio, a 48-year-old woman, and his two brothers: 28-year-old Miguel Angel Torres Castañeda and 15-year-old Julio Torres Castañeda. Even though his mother helped with money for the expenses of the family yet there always were more expenses to face. So, five years ago Manuel had an idea: To establish a small business in his house. So, at that time he started selling cookies, candies, soda and food for birds. This way he discovered his asset for this kind of business.

As the time went by his business was going well little by little but he wanted his business to grow. He wanted to start selling more articles just as groceries, fruits, toiletries, drinks, toys etc. Unfortunately that was just a dream at the time because the gain obtained, as a result of his sales, was not enough to make bigger and improve his business as he wanted. He was very motivated on his project but could not find financial support to get his purpose.

One of his neighbors named Mrs. María Elena Sucsa Mendoza, who is a former client of Micro Lending program "Support Association for Small Business Perpetuo Socorro" (that was the first name of the program, now it is called CHOI's Micro lending), told him about this micro lending organization and the possibility for him to get one. So, he applied formally for a micro loan which was given to him on March 31, 2009. That was his first micro loan requested.

Manuel used this resource to implement and improve his small business so now he sells not only cookies, candies, soda and food for birds but groceries, fruits, toiletries, drinks, toys, several kinds of ice cream, etc. He is glad because now he is able to help his family and his brother Julio is studying thanks to the support that Manuel gives him. In a near future Manuel is planning to apply for another micro loan to keep improving his business and he wants to thank American benefactors who made possible this Micro Lending program.

Click on the image below or on the link to see more PICTURES.

Micro Lending: Story 2

NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU the story of how a person, who since his early childhood, had to work to be able to feed himself and his family. He comes from a very poor family and has been working most of his life. His name is Pedro Raúl Ly Delgado. He is 39 years old and presently lives in H-13 Antenor Orrego neighborhood here in Chimbote. He is married and his wife's name is Doris Chávez Alvarado. They both have three children: 14-year-old Leslie Ly Chávez, 10-year-old Pedro Ly Chávez and 8-year-old Noe Ly Chávez. Like all parents he has responsability to provide for his family.

His work story begins when he was around 8 years old. From that age he was working accommodating bricks in severals brickworks until he was 14 years old when he started working as an assistant bricklayer for many years. From 21 to 24 years of age he has been working in large brickworks in Nuevo Chimbote city because he has no opportunity to do so in Chimbote. He got married when was 25 but things were not going the way he wanted, economically speaking. So, he started to work on his own.

From 25 to 35 years of age he made bricks only for people who asked him. He did his best to get some money to be able to fulfill his customers' requests but it was needed to get more money to stay in business otherwise business would close down because of lack of materials (cement, coarse sand, etc.) and tools. In this hard situation he heard by some friends and neighbors about Micro Lending program which provides micro loans to entrepreneurs people needing support to begin or improve their businesses.

So, Mr. Pedro headed to the office of the Micro Lending program (which is a program of the non-profit organization CHOI) to know by himself about requeriments to get a micro loan. On August 16, 2005 he received his first micro loan and this way he could buy his materials, tools and pay his debts. Consequently his business started improving litttle by little and so he could hire an assistant. After a while Mr. Pedro requested another micro loan and he received it on September 24, 2007. His third micro loan was accepted and given to him on September 24, 2008.

He received his fourth micro loan on April 06, 2009. Presently Mr. Pedro has rented a place to his business located in L-1 Antenor Orrego neighborhood and he has four assistans working with him making several kinds of bricks. He is very thankful to the Micro Lending program for micro loans he has received since because of this support he can provide for his family.

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Micro Lending: Story 1

HER NAME IS CONSUELO OCAS PÉREZ and is 56 years old. Her husband is named Segundo Acuña Alvarado. They both have a 25-year-old son named Geiner Acuña Ocas and a 30-year-old daughter named Miriam Acuña Ocas. They all live at E-19 San Miguel which is one of many poor neighborhoods in Chimbote located near fr. Jack's Parish. Mrs. Consuelo is a housewife and Mr. Segundo works as a seller of typical Peruvian herbs at a small market near his house. Their daughter Miriam is a teacher but she could not get a school to work and their son Geiner is presently studying English language at an Pedagogical Institute.

Even though Mr. Segundo makes his best, his income is not enough to meet family expenses and to deal with unexpected situations such as health emergency and others. For this reason, since some time ago, Mrs. Consuelo tried to help his husband generating another income for the family. She had on mind setting a small business at home. But she had a big problem, she had no money to come true her idea. Her daughter Miriam, who had previously worked as a promoter for recycling program (a CHOI's one), let her know that here in Chimbote there is a Micro Lending program (which is another program of CHOI) whose purpose is supporting people to establish their own small business.

So, she went to the office of the Micro Lending program to find out about this issue and after doing corresponding formalities she received her first loan on May 30, 2008. Thanks to this loan she could set her small business at home and this way now she is able to help her family. As a response of gratitude she paid her monthly dues on time. She was a good client of the program so she requested a second micro loan which she received it on November 11, 2009 and she is presently paying her monthly dues.

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Let's Keep On Supporting!

Through this post I would like to share with you that here in Chimbote, Perú there is a Catholic parish called "Our Lady Of Perpetual Help" ("Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro") whose priest is the father Jack Davis. This parish is located in a poor neighborhood called La Victoria.

Most of residents of La Victoria and neighborhoods surrounding father Jack's parish tenderly call him "Padre Juanito" and love him so much. He is very concern about living conditions of the residents, specially for the poorest. In his life effort for improving living conditions of his neighbors he did his best to found a non-profit organization: "The friends" ("Los Amigos"), with the help of his American and Peruvian friends, for the benefit of the poor.

This organization, to more effectively serve the Peruvians in a self-sustained way, specially poor people living in Chimbote, canalize its support efforts through CHOI by means of one of its programs called Micro-Lending whose coordinator is Mr. Orlando Bermúdez García. This program provides micro loans to people with limited economic resources wanting starting or sustain a small business using their assets for this. Here is some information about micro loans given by Micro-Lending Program in May.

Micro Loans Given in Feb 2009

Here are some of micro-loans given by CHOI, through its financial support program llamado "Micro-Lending", to people who live in humble neighborhoods surrounding father Jack's parish, located in La Victoria neighborhood in Chimbote, for they to start a small business and this way to improve their life quality and their families. (More micro loans given)

Providing Micro-Lending

I have been writing some information about activities carried out in favor of those people living in humble neighborhoods in Chimbote. There are several areas in which they need to receive some support. One of them is the financial area for we can find entrepreneurs in those neighborhoods needing a boost in order to start their journey toward their economic independence. To address this issue CHOI has created a program called Micro-Lending. It provides micro-loans for people living in neighborhoods surrounding father Jack's Parish to start a small business or improve one existing. Here is some information about how this program has started; this is a letter from the administration of the Program to benefactors:

It is gratifying to greet and to send you a message of health, peace and social mission on behalf of the "Support Association to Small Businesses Perpetual Help" parochial community, the Micro-Lending program of CHOI.

Our association was founded with the aim of supporting and promoting creation and implementation of small businesses in our jurisdiction (neighborhoods surrounding the parish) thanks to support from the sister parish of San Miguel from Prior Lake - MN in the USA and thus improving our life quality and business vision.

All this is crystallized thanks to the huge heart of these wonderful people: Richard and Monica Roe, Dave and Mary Velishek, Frank and Sharon Velishek, Larry and Gerry Anderson, Kevin and Dawn Ranagan, Rick Altendorf, Tom and Micky Dolsin, Dick and Ann Miller, Earl and Carol Milbrath, Mike and Marlene Leonard, Tony and Dorothy Brama, and to the blessed kindness of our guides father Jack Davis and mother Peggy Byrne.

This beautiful goal started on July 24th, 2000. That was the day of our founding, providing our first micro-loan on October 25th of the same year. Since that date on we have treated 482 applications in total and we are glad to see that through our sand granite given, the beneficiary families have been able to develop their personal and business assets, thereby improving their socio-economic, educational, cultural and family level.

That was the letter. Well, I wanna say that despite they are helping some people in need but however still you can find many other people and families in many neighborhoods in Chimbote not surrounding the parish waiting that their assets are discovered.