King Benjamin Project

Micro-Enterprise Background February 2003

I had the opportunity to visit with about a dozen families who have implemented various family production projects. These projects are in various stages of implementation and levels of success. What is lacking is some technical guidance for these projects. Project leaders (generally heads of household) are being trained in how to write up a project proposal and some are receiving some funds. The local LDS unit leadership does not have the time nor the knowhow to follow-through with these individuals and their projects.

In the coming month I will be visiting with some humanitarian organizations based in the US, and request an individual with micro-enterprise training experience spend 2-6 weeks in San Juan. In that time a few selected local individuals could be trained and thereafter serve as local mentors to the project leaders.

The San Juan Chimbas Stake, through their Resource Center, is teaching a two-day, 8 hr/day workshop on "Employment Self-Sufficiency" to help individuals be better prepared to have opportunities for job interviews and develop career goals. They are taught the same 4 steps listed on the www.providentliving.org website, listed under "Employment".