Productive Awakening: Microenterprises with a future
PRODUCTIVE AWAKENING
The Productive Awakening program provides essential support for individuals and families who have launched their microenterprises and need to learn how to manage them. Within this framework, the Foundation develops and strengthens entrepreneurial initiatives by promoting professional and business skills aimed at generating income with a human approach, thus helping to improve the quality of life of beneficiaries and their communities.
Within this program, the following special projects have also been carried out, based on a human culture and values:
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Rural Entrepreneurs, which strengthens the business skills of entrepreneurs in rural areas.
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Training Families for a Better Future, implemented in the department of Chocó, Colombia.
ACTIVITIES
The activities of the Productive Awakening program are carried out through a structured training plan divided into the following work sessions:
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Training on human and entrepreneurial development, aimed at strengthening the business model through learning the necessary commercial techniques for resource management.
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Seminar organization to provide participants with more tools, supported by entrepreneurship specialists, and holding business fairs, where eligible participants (with available stock) present their products to the public and other entrepreneurs. These spaces allow for exploring opportunities to grow and consolidate their businesses.
Topics covered in the program include entrepreneurial knowledge about governance, business and administrative strengthening. The program also includes tax education such as RUT registration, taxes, withholding, and electronic invoicing, among other key concepts.
Aid Delivered
The aid provided during the program includes support materials for workshops, snacks during each training session, and special gifts during closing ceremonies as a token of appreciation for participants who completed their training successfully.
As part of the program, the Foundation also offers logistical support for the organization of business fairs, which are the final activity of the projects and free of charge for participants. Business matchmaking sessions are also held when the project includes participants with the required profile.
In addition, through partnership agreements, in-kind seed capital is granted, primarily aimed at strengthening commercial ventures.
Special Projects
This program has led to very special projects such as: Training Families for a Better Future, developed in the department of Chocó; and Rural Entrepreneurs, implemented in the departments of Tolima and Meta, as well as in the municipality of Sáchica (Boyacá).
Training Families for a Better Future
This project was carried out under a cooperation agreement with the Bavaria Foundation, benefiting nearly 100 people engaged in ecotourism and artisanal fishing in the municipality of Nuquí, department of Chocó.
The training focused on strengthening these occupations and activities by offering personalized support to each participant.
Rural Entrepreneurs • Tolima
In 2016, the Rural Entrepreneurs project was implemented for the first time in the municipalities of Chaparral and Rioblanco, department of Tolima, in partnership with the Directorate of Territorial Management, part of the Department for Social Prosperity of the Presidency of Colombia.
Thanks to this project, 207 coffee and cocoa producers strengthened the marketing of their products through training in values, management, and marketing.
Notable outcomes include participation in a commercial impact day and a business roundtable, brand redesign, and delivery of commercial equipment valued at 20 million COP to 8 participating associations.
Rural Entrepreneurs • Meta
With the support of the Government of the department of Meta, the Rural Entrepreneurs project was carried out in the municipalities of Granada, Lejanías, Cubarral, and El Dorado, benefiting 364 producers.
They received business strengthening training, participated in business matchmaking events in Bogotá and Villavicencio, and consolidated their ventures to increase income.
All of this based on a culture of values, such as honesty, respect, and teamwork.
Notably, this project included a radio training component for producers unable to attend in-person sessions.
Rural Entrepreneurs • Sáchica
Thanks to an agreement between the International María Luisa de Moreno Foundation and the Municipality of Sáchica (Boyacá), the Rural Women Entrepreneurs project was implemented with the goal of improving the quality of life of 38 women and their families.
The project promoted the development of skills for personal autonomy and income generation.
The beneficiaries received training in human development, arts and trades, and business development.