By Claire Freisen

Today's session of the Business Course focused primarily on marketing, which involved learning about the needs of the customer and how one’s product could satisfy those needs. 

Melad, an Egyptian businessman, spoke eloquently and with great enthusiasm, gripping everyone’s attention with his excitement about the lesson.  His frequent distribution of candy to those who answered his questions kept everyone alert and engaged.  

Mary is among the most enthusiastic participants. She has three children and though she struggles to read and write, her English is the best of the group. She loves interacting with new people and her cheerful and friendly personality makes her approachable. Her dream is to someday open a shop that sells Sudanese clothes.  She is planning to sew them herself at home. These clothes would be fashioned in various traditional Sudanese designs.

Being illiterate does not stop Mary from participating in the course. She absorbs the information and asks good questions at the end. Her creativity and skill for sewing is how she hopes to start her clothing business and provide for her children.