Village Business Incubator - Ain al Tineh

· The VBI secured a new phase for three years. Five new villages entitled to get the VBI services along with the villages targeted in the first phase.

· 68 women from the new target villages were trained in business management during the course of four training cycles.

· 150 women from the new five villages were sensitized through the eighth mobilization and sensitization campaign conducted by the VBI.

· 24 new enterprises were established in 2009 in different sectors of Business (Silk, Accessories, Perfume making, Hair dressing, Needle work, Soap Making, Bee breading, retailing, restaurant, and appliqué).

· 83 Counseling sessions were conducted to the beneficiaries in subjects of (registering in the handy craft's union, establishing pottery business, quality control, Pricing, re-costing and pricing, Carpet business, and Loan alternatives).

· 59 Follow up sessions were conducted in subjects related to (Record keeping, Carpet factory and registering in the handy crafts union, reproductive health).

· 105 ladies are working in the 60 VBI enterprises.

· Two workshops organized in cooperation with the Syrian Family Planning Association, attended by 35 young men and women.

· VBI started delivering its training to other organizations in Syria such as the Director of Agriculture in Lattakia, and the Palestinian refugees camp.

· 3 technical assistance interventions of product development and design were conducted by internal experts to improve the soap businesses, tailoring skills, and accessories products.

· Two technical assistance missions for the VBI staff conducted by Italian experts in Fair trade and team work.