Celebrating Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day is an annual UN day of observance held on June 27th to recognize the importance of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and creating employment opportunities.
Entrepreneurship is a valuable skill for SEGA students. Wages in Tanzania are often low and many Tanzanians seek to supplement their salaries with small businesses. With good planning and financial understanding, these businesses can lead to higher profit margins. SEGA incorporates entrepreneurship training into the curriculum for Form 3 students, who put theory into practice as they develop businesses through a business club model which gives girls hands-on experience in relevant local sectors of the economy.
As a member of Nurturing Minds’ Board of Directors, Angela McManus has been a key figure in SEGA's entrepreneurship program, and through the years she has made significant contributions to the development of the business model and various business concepts within SEGA. Initially, the program involved raising chickens to produce and sell eggs. However, they expanded the scope by introducing additional products such as honey and recycled plastics, and even establishing a campus shop.
In 2019, SEGA’s Entrepreneurship Coordinator Logolie approached Angela with the idea of students creating items for sale in the United States. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered progress on this idea. Nonetheless, Angela explains that they conducted Zoom calls to explore the feasibility of advancing the project. They brainstormed ideas for easily shippable products such as table runners, pillowcases, clutch bags, and a few other items. Once the products were created, they began selling them at events in the United States in 2021. Eighteen girls participated in producing these items, and the profits generated were sent back to savings accounts set up for the students.
In May of this year, Angela visited SEGA to witness the skills and crafts that the students had been working on during the school year. While she was there, the students participated in a week-long training and learned product and skills development that included a variety of artistic endeavors, including painting, fabric painting, tie-dye, embroidery, cake decoration, and crafting clutches and bracelets. Since SEGA was on break the students had ample time to dedicate themselves to these activities. Angela expressed her delight, stating, "It was truly enjoyable to be present and witness the students' excitement for this opportunity. Their creativity was visibly flowing, and it was wonderful to see."
SEGA’s Entrepreneurship Program aligns with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Day’s objectives by providing students with entrepreneurial experiences and income-generating opportunities. It fosters micro-sized enterprises within the educational context, empowering students to develop business skills, manage finances, and contribute to their personal and economic growth. It exemplifies the importance of nurturing small-scale ventures and cultivating a culture of innovation within the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise sector.
