Stepping up and stepping over: interim evaluation of Stepping Stones a micro-enterprise program for refugee and migrant women

Abstract

Stepping up and over Interim evaluation of Stepping Stones a micro-enterprise program for refugee and migrant women

Eve Bodsworth May 2013

Nasreen My name is Nasreen and I am from Afghanistan. My husband booked me in to do the Stepping Stones Business Course so that I could think about starting a business. Before, I did not think I could start a business here in Australia. It seemed too hard. I could not speak very good English (my husband would always translate for me) and I was too scared to go on public transport without my husband. I did not go anywhere without him. I did not feel comfortable to make phone calls or go to a doctor appointment. On my first day of the Stepping Stones course I was so nervous. My husband gave me a map and wrote down all the directions and the address in my language. I shouldn't have been nervous. The classroom was not scarythe teacher was very nice and the students were friendly. The trainer spoke very slowly and made the learning fun.