MARCH 2004
Contact sessions, World Consumer Rights Day celebrations and continued training. It’s been another busy month around the country with training for Micro Finance Institutions, SMME and individual borrowers. The Micro Finance Skills project continues to record progress and success.
World Consumer Rights Day
The BANKSETA Micro Finance Skills Project successfully teamed up with consumer councils in Gauteng, the North West, Northern Cape and Limpopo to spread the message of financial literacy to mark World Consumer Rights Day on the 15th March 2004.
The project was represented in the form of presentations and exhibitions at activities taking place during the week of the 15th March in Randfontein, Kuruman, Morafeng, Westonaria, De Aar in the Northern Cape, Sikhukhune and Secunda in Limpopo. Those participating not only received information and an opportunity to sign-up for the training but were also given MFSP promotional items such as pens and T-shirts in order to spread the message further.
MFIs continue to notch up Bronze training status
The BANKSETA Micro Finance Skills Project training for staff and owners of Micro Finance Institutions continues to impress. So far, 711 people have been trained – almost double the targeted number of trainings for this phase.
In Gauteng, two companies Rainbow Loans (31 points) and Ruksha Finance (42) points received Bronze status in February. In Kwa-Zulu Natal, five companies received Bronze status. They were Daveglen (33), Isivivane Sethu (83), Private Sector (50), Shepstone Money Loans (50), and U Score Bafana Cash Loans (33). Two companies – Blue Chip Finance (30) and Cashcor (50) – received Bronze status in the Western Cape in February. No companies received Bronze in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga in February but training is continuing at a pace.
"We are pleased that so many companies have achieved Bronze status and we would encourage them to have their learners assessed in order to achieve their Silver status. Each company needs to have 10% of their learners assessed to meet the Silver status requirements," said Kim Kemp, director of Pure Innovation who is the lead provider for the Micro Finance Institution training.
To see your company’s points and progress, go to and click on the MFSP.
Business Networking Sessions for MFIs and SMMEs
The BANKSETA Micro Finance Skills Project has introduced Business Networking Sessions which offer participating MFIs and SMMEs a practical approach to business strategy and development. These networking sessions are open to all MFIs and SMMEs participating in this round of training. The sessions take the form of discussions on the sector and the challenges facing businesses. During the first round of meetings held in March, the project facilitated informal discussions for MFIs and SMMEs on the problems facing the sector and which impact on their businesses. Through these discussions, MFIs and SMMEs are able to identify business risks and put in place measures to deal with them. In April, follow-up sessions will be held and industry experts and providers will also be invited to attend and give their in-put. The project aims to put in place appropriately-skilled coaches to assist businesses in a practical way. These coaches will be available to participating MFIs and SMMEs to assist with critical business issues and so help businesses grow and be more sustainable.
For more information, contact the co-ordinator Cindy-Joy at Pure Innovation (021) 425 3890 or .
.
MFI training continues to MEET needs
The BANKSETA Micro Finance Skills Project values ongoing evaluation and feedback on the courses being offered. Recent feedback from the “Build a Relationship with Your Client” course shows trainees regard the courses as interesting and valuable. Comments included: “Very interesting course. I feel great as I can discuss loans with the client without a misunderstanding.” And “Good course. Can now explain rules and method of payments to clients.”
A trainee at the Developing Advanced Client Service Skills had this feedback: “Very interesting and understandable course. My communication with the client has greatly improved.”
Other comments included: “Before the course I was not aware of marketing. I gained a lot of information.” (Market Your Product) and “Great course. Learnt things we never used before. Gained a lot, our company is improving.” (Do a Credit Check)
Call Carmen at (021) 551 3829 to sign-up for training today!
Consumer training picks up speed
Targeted training for small, micro and medium enterprise owners who use the services of micro-lenders is continuing with 210 SMME borrowers attending 511 modules of training to date.
A further 674 individual consumers have been trained in the five provinces. During this stage of training, the BANKSETA Micro Finance Skills Project aims to reach 500 SMME borrower clients and 2 200 individual borrowers.
Consumer Tracker Line
The consumer toll-free tracker line 086 22 11 121 continues to draw callers and already over 300 people have called to sign-up for the free training and to enter the Lucky Draw. The names of the following lucky trainees have been drawn and they will receive these great prizes:
- David Shasha (Free State) won a mini hi-fi
- Simon Arends (KZN) won a selling table
- Hendry Palwini ((MP) won R500 in cash
- Steven Moeketsi (GP) won R500 in cash
- Sydney Mkhonza (Limpopo) won R500 in cash
- Zwetumile Makwayiba (Cape) won a selling table
The next Lucky Draw will take place during April 2004.
Contact Sessions
The vital communication and interaction with stakeholders continues with contact sessions held in the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal last month. These were well attended with 24 attendees in Cape Town and 27 in Durban giving their comments on the project. One-on-one meetings were also held in the region. All in all a great success and the feedback given continues to improve the project..
The project team are now preparing for contact sessions in the new provinces i.e. where the project still has to be launched. These sessions will take place in North West, Limpopo, Free State and Northern Cape. One-on-one sessions will be set up in Gauteng in April/May and in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga in early May. The programme and details will be accessible on the BANKSETA website:
Notice
Congratulations to Pure Innovation director Kim Kemp who had a baby boy, Noah, this month.
This is the second “project baby”!