Knowledge Is Power

After our first week of classes, I’ve begun to realize the addictive qualities of teaching. Day by day, I catch more and more glimpses of understanding and excitement in the eyes of our students, and I’m craving more!

As we reviewed the week’s worth of material on Friday at the ICC location, I realized that despite the rocky start with late registrants and the missing day due to the vote for Kenya’s new constitution, the students were getting it! They were head-nodding instead of sleepy head-bobbing, and calling out answers instead of staring at us wordlessly.

Mid-afternoon when their eyes do start to glaze over and I can sense restlessness under the tent that serves as our classroom, I know it’s time to play a game. I can count on Sam, a young kid with aspirations to be a personal image consultant, to teach us a new game, make us laugh, and energize us for the last stretch of lesson. Sam is a natural leader, exceptionally positive and keen, as evidenced by the amount of effort and consideration he put into perfecting his marketing research survey.

It’s enthusiasm like Sam’s that initially sparked my addiction to teaching SE101, but it’s their appreciation that has fueled it through the first week. It’s a brilliant feeling when a student thanks us at the end of the day and tells us that they’ve learned so much already. One student in particular, Absalom, already owns a real estate software company but now has an innovative idea for a new social business. He told me he thought he had almost everything ready to approach lenders, but after just one class, he realized he needed much more. Many would be discouraged by this, but Absalom is eager to succeed and ready to put everything he has into this business that could make a significant difference in the lives of residents in Nairobi’s slums. As he simply and inspiringly says, “knowledge is power.”

I can’t wait for Monday’s class!

Class party!

The first week of teaching just ended, and we are already at a third of the way through our training program for 2010. Therefore, what better way to crystallize the week's learnings than a party?!

We are running two classes at St. Aloysius this year, based on the students' experience at running businesses. At Martina's suggestion, Lisa, Rimple, Eon, Barry and I brought both groups together for a few hours Friday afternoon. Under the guise of discussing naming and logo of their companies in prevision of the next week's marketing session, we have had the students pitch their business idea in front of 25 of their fellows.

After a week of class, the students are getting more comfortable at discussing their ideas in small groups as well as in front of the class. The joint session was therefore also an opportunity to get them out of the comfort zone again. Also, a study of entrepreneurship wouldn't be the same without elevator pitches! (though I'm not sure the metaphor is quite as effective at St. Aloysius...)

In contrast, it was good to take some time aside from the curriculum and encourage students to let their creativity flow, by having them brainstorm company names and mottos and collaborate on their business plans.

Finally, the joint session was a good opportunity for networking. As we are looking at increasing the post-program support we provide to our entrepreneurs, creating a sense of community within trainees is essential.

The seminar was a great success! Overall, students have made tremendous progress in only a week. Of course, there is plenty of work to be done, but today's seminar shows that they are not alone on the sometimes bumpy road to success.

First Day of Class

[Posted for Jacky So]

Today (August 2) was our first day teaching at ICC with Les, Kathy, and myself. Overall, it was a wonderful experience because of an opportunity to meet bright and talented young entrepreneurs. One of the participants had an amazing idea that he shared with me over lunch. The story was about his passion for baking, be it lava cake, black forest cake, or any cake, he was all about cakes. As we discussed his experience, he told me that his close friends would always invite him over to make cakes. He also does jobs on the side through word of mouth for occasions that would require baking. His location for his baking/catering shop was an ideal location as he explained. The only cake shop around his area has moved away since their building has been demolished.

Closer to the end of the workshop, It was amazing to have him speak in front of the group and have the group provide constructive feedback. As he sat down, I saw the grin on his face from behind. This had a great effect on me to know that he appreciated the whole classes support. He knows that his plan requires additional thought but through the collective feedback process, he might have a chance to make his idea a success. As I saw him get up at the beginning, nervous, and when he got back down after the positive feedback with his arms spread out and relaxed, I felt this was a great start to a memorable first day of teaching. I wonder what tomorrow shall entail.