Empowering Entrepreneurs through Entrepreneurial Workshops: A Recap of our Goods4Causes Summer Programming
This summer, Good Neighbours Canada hosted a series of six hands-on craft workshops under our Goods4Causes program, designed to empower equity-deserving communities with the skills they need to launch and grow their small handcrafting businesses. This program supports local newcomers, refugees and people of colour to hone their entrepreneurial skills, fostering financial inclusion, and enhancing economic independence. The series of workshops covered a range of topics, from practical crafting techniques to the essentials of in-person marketing.
With 30 participants joining us across six workshops, we supported 24 newcomers, 2 participants with disabilities, and 28 people of colour, reflecting the diversity of the communities we strive to uplift. Each participant brought their unique perspective and experience, and the workshops provided a supportive environment where everyone could learn, share, and grow together.
"I gained first-hand experience which will give me more confidence to open my own business."
Summer Workshop Series
With thanks to subject-expert facilitators Christine Beaton, Melissa Le, Sania Sophia, Morgan Orellano and Hearan Jin, participants learned essential craft skills in candle making, crochet and knitting. They also learned about the strategies for succeeding as a market vendor for those wishing to sell their products in-person. Most importantly, the expert facilitators were all able to share their personal experiences as small business owners, and participants engaged in Q&A sessions to learn firsthand experiences and develop their personal small business plan.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 96% of attendees finding the workshops beneficial to their small business goals and 100% taking away valuable lessons that they could apply to their entrepreneurial journeys. One participant shared, “I learned that anything is possible. I was inspired by the energy of the class. Everyone was motivated to learn.” Another added, “I gained first-hand experience which will give me more confidence to open my own business.”
The personal stories shared by our facilitators also resonated deeply with participants. One attendee remarked, “My favourite part about this workshop was learning all about the facilitator’s journey to starting her business.”
These testimonials underscore the power of shared experiences and the value of learning from those who have successfully walked the entrepreneurial path.
Looking Forward at Goods4Causes
As we reflect on the success of this summer’s workshops, we are reminded of the importance of creating spaces where aspiring entrepreneurs can not only learn new skills, but also build the confidence to succeed as a small business owner. Our Goods4Causes program continues to be a vital platform for supporting equity-deserving communities towards economic independence. This coming fall, we look forward to providing more entrepreneurial themed workshops for our current and aspiring entrepreneurs to brainstorm the strategies for growing their business, now that they have developed crafting skills to support this journey.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our summer craft workshops. We look forward to seeing you at our future events, and watching your small businesses thrive!
