Affecting The Livelihood Of Entrepreneurs In Haiti
On November the 3rd, Livelihoods held a graduation ceremony for the completion of their second ALE program training course. ALE (Ameliorer L’Entreprise – Improve the Business) seeks to train small and medium-sized businesses in the Leogane area in order to increase sales and create jobs which in turn gives families the opportunity to move out of poverty by earning a stable income. The graduation ceremony marked the completion of an 8-week training course and 10 consulting visits for 21 local business owners and managers.
The 21 businesses participating in the graduation ceremony came from three different sectors: construction, food supply and restaurants and hotels. The ALE program involved a weekly training course for the businesses taught by local employees, and weekly consulting visits with local and international business mentors. The courses began with lessons on sales tracking, inventory listings, advanced accrual accounting, marketing strategies and social responsibilities. The consulting visits focused on how best to implement course material in the individual business and other ways for businesses to improve their processes.
At the graduation ceremony, in addition to speeches by Project Coordinator Djemson Jeudy and Mentor Supervisor Diego Martin, each sector had a representative speak about their experience in the program. Marie Yves Derat, assistant to the director at Arawak Hotel, expressed how the training course and consulting visits have helped improve her customer service and marketing at Arawak, and how she feels more of a complete hotel manager compared to before. The food supply representative Hilas Brandt, manager of Kris Kapab Boutique, said that before he integrated himself into the program, an accounting system was not in place and was unaware of directions on inventory listing. After the Livelihoods program, he has regular accounting control and an inventory system for his business.
Lastly, Pierre Paul Daniel, owner of JB Base Hardware, spoke on how useful the program was as it has shown him ways of improvement and protection for his business financially. Pierre now sees productive results in customer retention due to a more advanced skill in marketing and advertising. He has adopted a mentality where “Clients are king” which allows constant progress for his business and staff. Before finishing the ceremony, Pierre surprised the Livelihoods team by presenting All Hands with a plaque of “Honor and Merit”, encouraging us to take the work of the Livelihoods program to all parts of Haiti.
Kathleen Gordon
Livelihoods Program Intern and Mentor
Amal Blezin says:
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 8:00pm
I realy appreciate the great job that this organization for the training you provide to the Leogane Entrepreneurs. The courses area that you cover as Sales tracking,Inventory listing… are very important for them. I am from Leogane I always encourage a friend of mine who runs a business making a great dealt of profit to hire a part time bookeeper or accoutant that would help him manage better the businees, unfortunately he never understand that need.
Another thing I would encourage you to put more emphasis on the Social Responsabilities, a sense of humanity. That is the key for the country development. Haiti is poor not because a lack of ressources is because, traditionally, the businessmen who have had the leadership of the country do not have any heart. They don’t learn how to share their big profits to their community development. I think this program should spread out to the highest rank of businessmen in the country.
Glad that my partner Pierre Paul Daniel and his wife Juliette have had the opportunity to benefit this program.
On behalf of Leogane I say: Thank you.
Amal Blezin.
Blezin says:
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 4:02am
Bravo!continuez à stimuler le développement d’haïti car on ne fait pas avancer un peuple en lui mettant toujours de quoi à manger dans les mains,c’est exactement en lui montrant comment gagner sa croûte qu’il avance.Il sera aussi fier de lui et il marchera la tête haute….Joany.