A total of 75 additional families last Saturday received US$100.00 each, making it a total of US$7, 500.00, from Street Child of Liberia, a child advocacy group in its sustainable family business scheme.
A three-hour seminar on ‘How to conduct a successful business,’ preceded the distribution administered by Project Coordinator Mrs. Rose-June Dangbuah, at the auditorium of Educational Promoters in Chocolate City, near Gardnersville.
She deliberated on subjects, including business etiquette; cash management and cash flow management; price setting; good marketing; how to handle customers; problem solving skills and why business fail.
Coordinator Dangbuah also explained in basic terms the importance of a customer and time management.
“Remember that your business exists because of the customer and therefore you must take care of your customers,” she said.
Explaining to the beneficiaries that the customer is always right, Mrs. Dangbuah explained that the US$100.00 provided to each of the seventy-five parents is seed money which is aimed at improving their respective businesses, in order to help their children who are under Street Child of Liberia’s program.
Mrs. Dangbuah urged the beneficiaries, mostly parents, the majority of whom were women, to set priorities of arriving at their business centers on time so as not to miss their customers.
Deliberating on why business fail, she said such business owners lack sufficient capital, engage in spending beyond their means, improper time management and poor financial record keeping, among others.
“Another reason that businesses fail is when, for example, you decide to sell umbrellas in the dry season,” she said, adding that owners of businesses should make it a responsibility to buy seasonal products.
She told the gathering to invest wisely in their children, pointing out that investing in a child’s education is providing an important means for a family and the country to benefit in the future.
So far, she said, Street Child of Liberia has provided 235 Liberian families with US$100.00 in its Family Scheme program, amounting to over US$25,000.00, with about 59 families expected to receive grants as the project continues.
Several families expressed appreciation to Street Child, saying how much they welcomed and appreciated the financial seed assistance.
The beneficiaries were drawn from communities in Montserrado County, including Pipeline, Chubor, Zinc Camp, Nizo Town, West Point, Glass Factory, Center Street and Camp Johnson Road.