Stidia had marketing experience but sought a platform to further develop her skills through Enabel’s Work Readiness Program. With a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management and Rural Development, Stidia Olikiriza joined the program and was employed as a Sales/Marketing Officer at Genuine Organic Millers in Mbarara. Here, she honed her sales skills by visiting markets to find customers and promoting posho and bran for farmers.
Stidia enjoys her work, despite challenges like customers claiming her product is costly. She is learning to convince them of the value of her high-quality posho.
The program has helped Stidia build her social capital, which she finds very beneficial for her career. “I interact with customers who have become my friends. I call them for feedback, which has sharpened my interactive skills,” she says.
The most valuable lesson Stidia has gained from the Work Readiness Program is her admiration for the active business environment at her workplace. She aspires to start her own business at the end of the six-month program, improving her income with the skills she has acquired.