MARRAKECH, Morocco: OCP Entrepreneurship Network, Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP (ACO) and the Mowgli Foundation recently organised a ceremony at the Palmeraie OCP training centre to celebrate the successful completion of a joint Mowgli-ACO programme.
The Mowgli-ACO programme was a yearlong partnership for ACO executives, who were trained as mentors by Mowgli and paired with local Moroccan entrepreneurs to provide them with personal and business guidance. The aim of the event was to celebrate and showcase the mentor-entrepreneur success stories, reconnect the participants and enable them to share their learning experiences with each other.
At the end of the yearlong programme, the 14 participating entrepreneurs reported employing 164 full and part time staff, creating 13 new jobs and safeguarding 151 jobs during the period. This is an average of one new job created per entrepreneur.
Mowgli CEO, Kathleen Bury, commented on the completion of the programme, "The collaboration between OCP Entrepreneurship Network and ACO has been an extremely successful one. Through the programme, we were able to train ACO executives as mentors and connect them with local entrepreneurs to provide essential support and guidance over an entire year." Bury added, "Mowgli is deeply committed to supporting and developing Moroccan entrepreneurs and mentors and our mission is to further embed mentoring as a key pillar within the entrepreneurship ecosystem to create a new generation of leaders who will effectively and sustainably contribute to the economy of Morocco and the region."
ACO CEO, Abdelaziz El Mallah, commented, "This programme has been beneficial on many fronts. Firstly, our executives received essential development to create leaders that serve the community. We were also able to directly support Moroccan entrepreneurs through strong mentoring relationships." El Mallah added, "This kind of empowerment affects both the mentors and the entrepreneurs, which is truly one of the hallmarks of Mowgli programmes."
Outmane El Hassani, Head of Regional Coordination and Acting Director at OCP Entrepreneurship Network said, "Developing entrepreneurs' professional and personal capacities will create a healthier entrepreneurial ecosystem in Morocco, and in turn will allow these entrepreneurs to grow and create job opportunities within their communities. By pairing entrepreneurs with well-qualified mentors, we are creating an environment where these entrepreneurs can be in a better place to grow their businesses, gain access to capital and leave a lasting positive social and economic impact."
About Mowgli Foundation
The Mowgli Foundation is an award winning, UK-headquartered mentoring organisation, established in 2008, which has been pioneering and specializing in entrepreneurial mentoring and embedding leadership development through the philosophy of mentoring within MENA's governments, corporates, and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Mowgli provides mentoring that inspires, connects and guides entrepreneurs and leaders to overcome life's personal and business challenges through:
• Interactive, experiential and transformational 'Kickstart' workshops
• A unique environment for accelerated relationship building, mentor training and matching
• Engagement within a learning and mentoring focused global alumni network
Mowgli has an alumni with over 1650 members and has matched over 750 entrepreneurs with trained mentors in 13 countries; Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and the UK. In December 2012, Mowgli was recognised with the Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders Award for the 'Best Mentor Network in the Arab Region'. More information is available on Mowgli's website: www.mowgli.org.uk
About OCP Entrepreneurship Network
Supported by Fondation OCP, OCP Entrepreneurship Network aims to promote and foster entrepreneurial ecosystems in Morocco. Thanks to its web of local, national and international partners, it focuses on key areas of entrepreneurial development through a job creation and business growth approach.
More information on: www.ocpen.org
About the « Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP » :
Created in 2012 on the initiative of OCP executives, the "Alliance des Hors Cadres OCP" has over 800 members. It is a multidisciplinary Moroccan pool and a creative force, committed to serving both present and future Moroccan challenges.
ACO aims to offer the right framework to unite all the forces around its objectives, especially promoting citizen volunteer work.
© Press Release 2015
