In June 2017, ACE Charity launched the Business Empowerment Program for Women (BEPW) in partnership with Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. The program, which runs twice a year for six months, is aimed at empowering young women from disadvantaged communities with basic sewing and business management skills which will enable them to gain the necessary knowledge to establish and manage their own businesses effectively and efficiently.
During the course of the training, the beneficiaries receive free transportation to and from the training venue as well as free feeding. At the end of the training, the beneficiaries gain skills needed to start and run a successful fashion and designing business, and the brand new sewing machines they learn with are gifted to them to help kick start their businesses. Since its inception, a total of 48 young women have been empowered.
Rural women entrepreneurs are significant development partners, as their engagement in economic activities creates monetary gains, decreases the poverty rate, increases self-employment and employment of others. It is therefore crucial that they are prioritised in economic recovery efforts.
We empower rural women entrepreneurs with small-scale, interest-free loans to support their businesses. We provide them with access to formal banking services by opening bank accounts for them and training them on how to use mobile banking, ensuring financial inclusion and an easier method to transact. In addition, we train our entrepreneurs on business management, financial literacy in order to prepare them for success.
Over 300 women are currently enrolled in the programme. The Women Microcredit Programme has economically empowered rural women enterprises through increased revenues and savings among beneficiaries, increased access to digital banking services, business expansion, and starting of new businesses.
Nigeria is currently facing an unemployment crisis. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, about 42% of Nigerians are unemployed, one of the highest in the world, and many Nigerian youth have been termed “unemployable” because they lack the essential skills employers need.
Since 2013, ACE Charity, in partnership with Transcorp Hilton, has improved the employability of about 250 unemployed young Nigerians by providing them with the relevant work experience and soft skills needed to kickstart their careers. This is achieved by placing the beneficiaries in various departments of Transcorp Hilton, based on their career goals, where they gain hands-on experience to improve their technical skills. The programme also offers daily mentorship sessions led by industry experts, where they acquire transferable soft skills like confidence, leadership, public speaking, decision-making, goal-setting and professional communication. These skills enable them to effectively compete for job opportunities and set a strong foundation for their careers. After the program’s completion, participants not only gain the essential technical and soft skills but receive continuous mentorship and long-term support to ensure continued growth.
Since the program’s inception, the program has seen positive results. Over 90% of the participants have reported improved soft skills. Additionally, Transcorp Hilton has employed about 10% of the participants, while others have obtained jobs and started their businesses. These successes highlight the program’s effectiveness in addressing unemployment and improving the employability of young Nigerians.
The Careers at Hilton programme is an initiative of ACE Charity in partnership with Transcorp Hilton Abuja. The objective of the programme is to provide an opportunity for youths to gain relevant work experience at the Hilton, where they learn transferable skills that will enable them to compete better for economic opportunities in society. Participants are engaged in daily mentorship sessions and are provided with lunch and transportation by Transcorp Hilton for the duration of their internship.
The Soap for Hope project is an initiative of ACE Charity and Transcorp Hilton Abuja. The program is designed to promote personal hygiene, prevent avoidable diseases and create awareness for recycling and repurposing of soap waste. Soap pieces are collected from Transcorp Hilton, scraped, sanitized, flavored, colored and molded into new exotic soap bars which are then wrapped and stored. These soap bars are distributed to pupils and students in government primary/secondary schools and women in rural communities where soap is luxury, to promote personal hygiene.
The soap bars are also sold on request at the cost of 1000 naira to individuals or organizations to raise funds for the charity. The soap recycle project also has the potential to become a commercial source of income for the charity while empowering individuals, women in particular, with a source of livelihood.
The ACE Charity Self-Starter seminar/workshop in partnership with Transcorp Hilton, Abuja is aimed at teaching Nigerian youth the importance of self-drive, determination and discipline, as these are core skills needed to compete effectively in the labour market. The seminar/ workshop is usually held at the beginning of the year to empower youths with the knowledge and soft skills needed to kick start their careers in the new year.
It usually includes an interactive panel discussion and a breakout strategic session with the attendees where experts in various fields such as finance, development, health, law, and brand and business management share practical tips on self-development and careers as well as inspire attendees by sharing their professional experiences.
ACE Charity is a non-governmental organisation established in 2010 and is dedicated to creating a realistic and effective difference in the lives of people across Africa, especially women and children.
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