Unveiling the economic impact of information sharing through storytelling: Testimonies of business women at the American Corner in Mzuzu City, Malawi.

Abstract

Women living in the urban area of Mzuzu City in Malawi, spend most of their lives operating small and medium business enterprises to sustain their daily livelihood, however, the role of information sharing as a catalyst for economic empowerment among businesswomen, has not played its pivotal role. The women lack information on how to start a new business, find capital, markets and boost their business among others. These challenges can be addressed by equipping the women with relevant information through storytelling. The study investigates the power of information sharing through storytelling to unveil its role in economic empowerment among businesswomen in Mzuzu City, Malawi. The study aimed to establish business women’s information needs, how storytelling has been used to share business information among them, and the benefits of story sharing as a strategy for information sharing among businesswomen in Mzuzu. The study used the qualitative approach where focus group discussions were used to collect data. Data collected was analysed through content analysis, and findings were presented using themes. Findings revealed that women running small businesses in Mzuzu need information on how to start a business, business capital, markets and profit margins expected. The study revealed that through sharing experiences of business stories, women encouraged one another to get business information in their area. For instance, participants reported that storytelling has enabled women to build networks and partnerships where they exchange business information. Through storytelling, businesswomen have discovered new business ventures and developed a resilient spirit as they learn from one another. The study recommends that libraries should consider designating spaces where communities can meet to share information to meet their basic information needs; libraries should consider having special storytelling programmes where communities share stories about issues affecting them in their daily lives; and finally, libraries should heighten awareness of the benefits of storytelling as a strategy for sharing information among people of similar interests.