NOTES FROM THE BAM BREAKFAST NETWORKING MEETING HELD ON 22ND FEBRUARY 2007
Introduction
The first BAM breakfast meeting took place on Thursday, 22nd February 2007 in the ACK Guesthouse. This meeting
brought together 47 participants drawn from both the church and different business sectors.
We plan to convene these meetings initially on a monthly basis and review their progress at the end of this year.
Participants expressed a need to get exposed to the concept of ‘business as mission’ as we provide a platform for
information exchange and dissemination.
This is the first networking breakfast meeting to be held. From the previous meetings and consultations that have been
held a need has emerged for a networking forum to be established where people interested in BAM as a principle and
practise is the main agenda. It was felt that the existing business-people’s fellowships are not quite meeting the needs
so though they have the potential for this.
It had four main objectives:
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Promote the concept and practice of BAM |
|
Provide a platform for information sharing such as: emerging business opportunities and BAM success stories |
|
Connect practitioners with potential practitioners |
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Connect young businesses with mature and established businesses |
Presentations
There were two main presentations:
1.
Dennis Tongoi provided a background of BAM and gave a progress update. He later invited three individuals
who are involved in BAM ‘beacon’ projects to introduce them to the participants.
( Download presentation here...)
2.
Kibuga Kariithi gave a short talk on the wealth-creation opportunities that exist at the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
( Download presentation here...)
The presentations are attached.
The following individuals described the projects that they are involved in (mentioned):
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Julius Weche on Aloe vera project |
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Peter Wainaina on Infineon Holdings |
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Simon N. Munywe on KEMA |
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Obura Tongoi and Africa Redefined Limited |
Plenary discussions
The participants asked questions and made suggestions, as indicated in the table below.
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Aspect, discussion issue |
Recommended action |
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Sharing documents of BAM, creating awareness in
participants |
1. Send the full 60-page BAM document and the 5-pg summary with beacon projects, to all participants
2. There are opportunities to use FM radio stations to disseminate information.
3. Films (walk-ins) can also be used.
4. Other media can also be explored. |
|
Make BAM-related information readily available. |
1. Develop a website.
2. Develop and share a database of contacts that will facilitate networking.
3. Compile a list of all available Christian service providers and businesses. Participants will share the
contacts that they have. |
|
Capacity building for small businesses |
1. Capital for business development is available. Entrepreneurs should learn how to present their ideas in
sound business plans that can attract investment.
2. Somebody has opened a business that only helps entrepreneurs develop business plans and proposals,
provides accounting and related services.
3. Entrepreneurs need to have their projects assessed to ensure viability.
|
|
Concern for the rural areas- there are too many ideas and
initiatives that are centred in Nairobi, yet most people live in
the rural areas. |
1. The church can be an avenue for disseminating ideas in the rural areas.
2. The ACK[2] has 9 departments of social services across Kenya that can be excellent vehicles for BAM
ideas, investment opportunities, etc. BAM will begin talking with the CCS’ in Nairobi.
3. Para-church agencies can also be used for this purpose.
4. NSE and Ashbhu and DOSS are working on a project to make information available to the rural areas.
Other churches can get on to it |
|
Frequency of the BAM breakfast meetings |
Hold monthly or bimonthly meetings. Maybe explore monthly meetings in 2007 to build momentum, and settle
on bimonthly meetings in 2008. |
|
Making BAM dynamic and action-oriented |
1. Visit to beacon projects
2. Hold sensitisations seminars in rural areas, with community groups and SACCOS, etc. |
|
Ndwiki-
1. Needs an office building/ office space
2. Needs school fees for the students, |
Ndwiki will follow up with Kibby on his needs. |
Serah summarised the meeting, and the ACK provincial secretary closed the meeting in prayer.
