Summarising what this project is about; it is to help the women refugees to be able to sustain themselves as well as their family. Coming into Malaysia, these women aren't allowed to have a work permit here, thus unable to earn income. Although they are not allowed to work, that doesn't mean they do not have the skills and potentials to do and create things, such as cooked delicious foods as well as sewing beautiful clothes (pictures can be seen from the previous post). There are a few, however, who did not possess the right abilities and having the basic business knowledge to sustain themselves.
Hence, our role in this Project SOS would be divided into two groups; business coaches and marketing team. Both roles are crucial for the success of this projects. The descriptions of each roles would be further elaborated.
Business coaches
Business coaches would require SIFERs to visit the women and enrich them with basic business knowledge. The process of being a business coach would be as following:
- Attending a business coach training session that will be conducted by one of the coaches in TECH Outreach. The date for this training would be confirmed later on, by evaluating the convenience of all of us.
- Each SIFERs would be paired up with each other and both would accompany the professional coach from TECH Outreach to visit the women for the first few visits. The women are scattered in various locations (eg. Gombak, Sentul, PJ, Klang, Port Klang etc.) so both SIFERs would need to travel to designated locations and visit a group of women (approximately 5 women).
- After two to three visits with the business coaches, the SIFERs are expected to visit the women by themselves (both in pair). The frequency of this visit would be minimum once every two weeks (twice per month) and it will go on for 6-12 months, depending on the progress of the women. No worries, each visiting session should last no longer than 2 hours. Did I mention that SIFERs can arrange the date and time they would like to visit the women? Just make a phone call with the women and TECH Outreach people (for them to send a translator over) to set the date you are planning to visit. Of course when I said anytime, that doesn't mean 3am or 11pm.
Some of you might wonder, what should you do when you visit the women. Well, each SIFERs would be given a sheet of form during each visit and just fill it in accordingly. After each visiting session, SIFERs are expected to write a short, informal report on the progress of the women and send back to the people in TECH Outreach. There are various things that could happen during the visit. So, here are a few scenarios that are given by Dr Malar (from TECH Outreach).
When visiting the women, SIFERs should check on their living place; if it is messy or not, their working place is hygienic or not, the condition of the house. If, for example, there is a big lump of rubbish at the kitchen, just beside the pot where they are cooking the curry (hope you're not eating while reading this >.<) then SIFERs are expected to tell them to clean the place and all those stuff.
SIFERs should also check on the quality of the products. Perhaps if the women cooked some food, SIFERs can have a taste and give their personal comment on it; whether it is too salty, too sweet, too oily?? Act as if you're a professional food critique. As for those who sew, check on their shirt quality; whether there is any loose ends or the design not good enough. You be the judge on their products.
Some women do not have basic accounting knowledge, so here is the chance for you to apply what you learn in classroom to real life. They do not know how to do accounting entries and they mixed their personal account with their business account (sounds familiar right =P). So, SIFERs need to at least teach them the basic double entry, which is the debit and credit. But not having an accounting background like us is a disadvantage to them, so when SIFERs are teaching them, just use simple terms like in and out (referring to double entry).
These are a few scenarios that could happen during the visits. Of course, it may vary for each one of you. Some may encounter more difficult situation; some may have an easier time. But nonetheless, it will train you to become good teacher and improve on your communications.
Do take note that during the first few visits, the women may not be too keen to talk to you, since you are a complete stranger to them. It's normal, human nature. I'm sure most of us do not talk much with the person sitting beside in the bus, or to the cafeteria lady. So, try to build trust and relationship with them. Once they are comfortable opening up to you, then the whole process would be easier.
Being a business coach requires SIFERs to communicate with other people, hence communication skills are important. Not only that, there are several things that you need to be as a business coach.
- Outspoken - As mentioned earlier, SIFERs would need to give their comments on a few things. Whatever comments or thoughts you have, just voice it out. If their food tastes bad, tell them it tastes bad. If the women are unhygienic, tell them they are unhygienic. Of course, be polite and give suggestions on how they could improve. I know that some (including myself) are afraid to voice these things out incase if it will hurt them. But this is important because it's a way that you would help them to improve themselves.
- Mature thinking - It's a weird way to put it, but once you read on hopefully you'll get some idea on it. Some women may face with difficulties (family or personal problems). So, they would tell you their problems and probably need you help them to solve it. Nevertheless, whatever problems that they have please do not disclose it to others as it may be a confidential matter for them. Plus, from my experience some people laugh when others were pouring their heart out. So please don't be like that.
- Commitment - SIFERs must be committed in visiting the women. Minimum two visits per month. This is important because if SIFERs do not keep up their visit, then the women would feel left out or have no trust on you. Then the core objective of this project which is BUILDING RELATIONSHIP AND EMPOWERING THE WOMEN TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES would not be achieved. So, we do not allow people who are ffk type to be business coaches.
So, these are the things that are required for business coach. There is another group which is the marketing team.
Marketing team
At one look, marketing team is a simpler task compare to business coach. However, the process is very challenging and plays a crucial role in this project as well. Basically, the main objective for the marketing team is to establish connections between the women and the external market.
As mentioned earlier, these women produces great products (food, clothing and others) but they cannot work. Hence, they only sell these products among their community. In another words, take money from left pocket and put it in the right pocket. So, our role is to market their products. But, they are not allowed to work, so what we can do is to find someone who are willing to buy their products and sell it. For example, one of the women made muruku and she can sell it to a mamak restaurant and the mamak restaurant can sell it to the public. Our job is to find the company or people who are willing to sell their products. It's easier said than done though, cause there might be procedures that needs to be adhere and the response from the company may be frustrating at times. However, it gives the exposure on communication as well because in the future if we need to contact other people, we would know how to handle the situation.
We do have project managers for Project SOS. Our project managers are Teo Chien Yi, Michelle Tan and Chua Pei Wen. Chien Yi and Michelle are from ACCA whereas Pei Wen is in BAF. Do approach them for further inquiries. In case if you don't know any of them, here's a picture of our project managers.
Right now, we are looking for people to volunteer themselves for any of these roles. It is an interesting process and may be difficult but if we all give support to each other, I don't see why we couldn't do it. Support from everyone of you is crucial in ensuring that this club will continue to go on for years to come. Many of you may not know, but for the first SIFE meeting which was held on 15th October 2010, there were less than 50 students who were there. But today, we have 300+ members register for this club and to those who were there for the last meeting, you can see that even the biggest classroom could not accommodate all of us. Perhaps the next member meeting we will make it in MPH (if we could get it). So, show your continuous support for this club.
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| Chien Yi |
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| Pei Wen |
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| Michelle |
If you do have any question, please do not hesitate to approach us. You can drop your questions at Facebook if you can't catch anyone of us in Sunway. Hope that after reading this, you are able to make up your mind on what you can help on. By next week, we will be finalizing the members who are interested in this project.
Thanks and regards,
Jake Ooi
VP of Projects
SIFE Sunway
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