Our Journey

 32 years of experience has taught us:

• that people who are encouraged to take charge of their own learning experience are significantly more likely to succeed in business than those who are taught by a teacher or trainer;
• that the Trainer (facilitator) is the natural mentor for fledgling businesses;
• that true mentoring is a meeting between equals and not a top-down approach;
• that it is dangerous to ignore the mindset or world-view of learners; (Those that believe that others are responsible for their poverty will not easily choose to take responsibility for their own economic destinies);
• that it is more effective to work with individuals than with groups such as production cooperatives;
• that debt (whether in the form of credit or loans) is not a blessing for poor people.

More than 6 000 delegates have attended our Trainer-Mentor courses since 1991 in several different countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

• This intensive 4-day course requires potential Trainer-Mentors to complete the 14 workbooks that comprise the 3 versions of Micro-MBA, prior to the first day of the course.
• Only facilitators that have been certificated by Trident Institute are permitted to offer the course.
• Micro-MBA training materials are ordered from Trident Institute.
• The trainers’ course typically takes place in Cape Town, but may be offered anywhere in the world (terms and conditions apply).
• The skills required to be a good Trainer and Mentor are very similar to those that make a good business manager. Management Development programmes are available on request.

This learner-driven, outcomes-based course has been successfully completed by nearly 200 000 learners in Africa and Latin America.

• The course covers the basic skills needed to start or improve a micro or small business.
• Micro-MBA is currently available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Chichewa. 
• Learners work at their own pace through 8 simple workbooks, for either Traders, Producers or Service Providers.
• Learners with a Grade 6 literacy capability will take about 32 hours to complete the workbooks. Some may finish in less time and some will need more. 
• The work is always completed in the presence of a trained facilitator.
• Illiterate people are encouraged to bring a literate friend or relative with them to the course. In this way two can be trained for the price of one!