WEB is one of only ten organizations in the United States to be awarded the 2011 HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (LIFE) Technology grant, which includes a newly-installed computer lab and training on the HP LIFE Curriculum.

This is the second time WEB has received a technology award from HP.

This award recognizes the valuable training and entrepreneurial development WEB accomplishes with its clients. An integral part of WEB’s business skills training is the use of current computer technology and software, moving students to the advantaged side of the digital divide. In fact, WEB students enrolled in its Ready To Write business planning course are required to create a Technology Implementation Plan (TIP) to describe how they will use technology to assist them in running their businesses.

The purpose of the global HP LIFE program is to train “students, aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to harness the power of information technology (IT) to establish and grow their business” (HP Life program documents). The primary component of the grant is what is called the “Multi-Seat Computing Solution.” The IT equipment includes 30 workplaces for students and 2 notebooks for teachers. The certified instructors receive specialized training and ongoing support to lead students through specific curriculum modules and games which facilitate learning.

The LIFE Curriculum is directed at people starting up, running, or working in micro-enterprises. Despite representing the largest source of new job creation, these small companies often struggle with efficiency and fail to grow beyond their original size. The LIFE Curriculum aims to help them overcome some of these challenges.  Another desirable feature of the LIFE Curriculum is that it combines business and technology. It has two key components:

The Experiential Learning Cycle – learning through hands-on experiences; and Business –Technology-Business framework –a way of integrating all the technological content into a business context, so that students always make the connection to business of the skills they are learning.

Curriculum topics are organized from IMAGINE, PLAN, and START through to GROW and INNOVATE, thereby addressing people with different amounts of experience in business. This corresponds to WEB’s expanded mission to assist not only the start-up entrepreneur, but also the existing owner with 1+ years in business. The HP LIFE program also provides an interactive global network called the LIFE Community to any entrepreneur who participates in the training and curriculum at one of the LIFE Centers, such as WEB.  All members have access to additional trainings, events and other entrepreneurs.

Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore is fortunate to be hosting, through the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) Fellowship program, Ms. Walaa Aqrabawi, a young business professional from Amman, Jordan.

Ms. Aqrabawi, a graduate of the University of Jordan, has worked at the Jordan River Foundation for almost five years.  The Foundation, created in 1995 and chaired by Queen Rania Al Abdullah, is a non-profit non-governmental organization focusing on several social and economic program areas, including Child Safety and Community Empowerment.

Ms. Aqrabawi’s interest in non-governmental organizations, women’s issues, and monitoring and evaluation practices led her to apply to the IREX program, which in turn matched her with WEB.

Ms. Aqrabawi will be performing outcomes research during her time at WEB, in addition to fulfilling her fellowship requirements. The challenging IREX program requires completion of on-line seminar training, regular assignments and a six-month project once the fellow returns to her home country.

Ms. Aqrabawi has worked extensively in the Community Empowerment program, particularly on data collection, tracking, evaluation, and development of critical success factors.  The program addresses communities of lower-income people throughout Jordan.  The Jordan River Foundation develops and implements holistic plans to work with these communities to develop income-generating businesses. Program specialists work through strategies such as:  training and capacity building; cooperation with local community-based organizations; use of small revolving-loan funds; and infrastructure support.

IREX was founded in 1968 with the goal of facilitating intellectual exchange and research between the U.S. and foreign countries.  It accomplishes this with a wide variety of projects.   In 2003, IREX established the U.S. Business fellowship program for Middle Eastern women, in which Ms. Aqrabawi is a participant.  Programs reaching out to the Middle East now comprise 10% of IREX’s program portfolio.

Ms. Aqrabawi comes from a family of seven and enjoys basketball.  She’s looking forward to seeing some of the United States before she returns to Jordan in the winter.  She intends to continue working on Community Empowerment and women’s economic development at the Jordan River Foundation for a number of years.