Economic Growth Sierra Leone Project #2492

Workforce Empowerment in Sierra Leone

by Develop Africa, Inc.

Project Report | May 29, 2012
Microfinance Beneficiary Discusses The Secret To Business Success

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

Abioseh - Successful Microfinance Beneficiary

It's our pleasure to again share another video from one of our microfinance beneficiaries - Abioseh. In this video, Abioseh is interviewed in Krio (local language) by Joanne, one of our Coordinators in Sierra Leone. The video is sub-titled in English. The video is insightful because it shares her perspective on the secret to her success. She explains that thanks to the funds received was her business has progressed. She has been able to expand / add more items to the business - which she was not able to do before. She also has more stock at her home business. This has helped a lot because she does borrow money from anyone. She explains that she is able to conduct her business independently.

Secret to Business Success: When asked why she has been successful in repaying funds loaned, Abioseh says that other people do not have "business skills". She says (translated) "they should learn skills to help them to know how to do business. I was born into a family that ran a small business. I am always prudent and skilled in allocating my resources. In addition I can also manufacture one of the items I sell ..."

She closes the interview with a message for Develop Africa donors, Global Giving donors and partners - "I am continually thanking them for everything that they have done and are doing. I really praise them as one would praise God because of the way that they have helped. I am able to support my grandchildren. They have increased my finance which puts the business in a better place. ... I pray also for them so God can continue to bless them.

In an article by Finca on microfinance - Is microfinance an engine of development? Finca says yes. The article clearly demonstrates that "on one level, and in the right circumstances – microcredit can yield tangible results for the world's poor, whatever its critics might say." This is clearly trhe case with Abioseh and countless others. We are together through this project making a real difference.

Construction Update: In other news from Freetown, construction is in progress at the Develop Africa Empowerment and Training Institute. This institute is one of our launch pads for microfinance training / support and we need approximately $2000 USD to complete construction. Please make a generous donation today that will help us complete this center. Thanks for your support.

Your Donations Matched on June 13th: GlobalGiving will be matching donations on June 13th. This is a great time to make a donation as the funds donated will go even further.

Upcoming Father's Day Gift Suggestion: In closing, we wanted to let you know of the on-going opportunity to make a donation in honor of the special person in your life. A donation to this project is a fantastic (and easy) gift for Dad on Father’s Day! You can make a donation as a gift to your Dad on this project by selecting the third giving option, “gift or in honor of,” under the orange donate button on the project page. GlobalGiving will then send your Dad or the gift recipient an email, print-at-home, or physical card. GlobalGiving offers several fun card designs and you will have the option of choosing a design customized for this project, using the project’s main photo (this option is available for email and print-at-home cards).

Fathers - you can also request this as your Father's day gift!

Make your donation in Father's honor and support a great cause today!

Thanks again for all you do to empower small businesses!

Links:

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Mar 9, 2012
Microfinance Funds Help Transition Business of Woman-Owned Small Business in Sierra Leone

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

Seray - microfinance / microcredit beneficiary

Warm greetings-

Hope your year is going well. Its with joy that we share a video testimonial by Seray - one of the female beneficiaries that we have together helped by providing microfinance funds. Seray is a repeat recipient of microcredit funds.

In the video Seray expresses her gratitude to Develop Africa and its partners (that includes YOU and other GlobalGiving donors) who have helped to provide the funds. The video was recorded during a business training session offered to fund recipients - as part of the support provided to help them succeed. In the video you can see some of the other training session participants.

Watch Video (1.5 minutes)

As Seray explains in the video, the fund provided has "really helped me - taking me from where I was to where I am now. At least, it has helped me with my business, all through out the year, last year. ... It also helped me open a bank account. ... I bless God for the people that initiated this idea. I bless God for the partnership that was able to choose me to benefit from this funding. I pray that that God will bless them in whatever they are involved in and their families."

          You must be the change you want to see in the world - Mahamta Gandi

It's exciting to read, hear about and be a part of making change happen. We are truly together helping to transform Africa - one life at a time. This is exciting and life-transforming. By helping to provide these funds and training we are being the change we want to see.

Want to help be a part of making more change happen? A great opportunity is just a few days away. Starting at 12:00 am EDT on March 14th, GlobalGiving will be matching all donations made through www.globalgiving.org (including this project) up to $1,000 per donor at 30%.

This means that your donation of $100 will be supersized and become $130! $1000 will become $1300. This is an amazing opportunity to make your donations go even further and help us do even more. We would so very much appreciate your support - that will provide many more loans to beneficiaries like Seray. Thanks for your support.

Want an email reminder: simply send us an email at info - at - developafrica.org and we will send you a reminder on March 14th.

Thank you change maker!

Links:

Seray says thanks - Youtube Video

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Dec 7, 2011
Microfinance Funds Enhance Business and Improve The Standard of Living of Isata's Family.

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

Isata - food ready for waiting customer

It is with great joy that I share the story of Isata. Thanks to your support, we together have helped to enhance her business and improve the standard of living of her family.

Madam Isata is an illiterate petty trader, who has never had the opportunity to attend any educational institution. She lives in Bo, Sierra Leone. She has nine children (3 boys and 6 girls). Isata struggles to educate her children. The eldest child is preparing for his public (WASCE) examination. The school costs including books, school fees, uniforms are burdensome on Isata. The father of her children is alive, but he is an additional burden to the nine children as his salary as low rank police officer is a pittance for the maintenance of the family.

Isata is engaged in cookery sale (cooked rice, foofoo, boiled cassava and beans) as an income generating activity to take care of her family and educate her nine children. Isata makes a profit of Le 50,000 (about $12) per day. She carries out her business in a rented shack for which she pays about $4 per month. Isata has been in this business for five years. Originally, each day due to lack of money, Isata would buy the food items in small quantities (rice by cup, palm oil by pint, fish by measure, etc.) to sustain her business. The low profit margin put the sustainability of her business at a high risk. Isata therefore needed micro finance to expand her business, by buying rice by bag, palm oil by bata (five – gallon container, fish by basket, etc.) to maximize profit, which she could plough back into the business for sustainability as well as being able to take good care of her children.

Thanks to the funds donated, Isata received an interest-free loan and has been able to buy her cooking supplies at wholesale - which has immediately increased her bottom line. She is very grateful to Develop Africa and all GlobalGiving donors for supporting her with micro finance to enhance her business and improve the standard of living of her family. Thanks so much for your support!

Make a Donation Today - Great Way to Help Change Lives: Giving towards microfinance is a great way to help small businesses grow and become independent. Study after study confirms this and we have together been able to strengthen many businesses. Your donations are making a definite difference and positive impact to the lives of women and families. By donating to this project - you are doing the greatest good and bringing permanent change! Its heart-warming to have this opportunity to help influence destinies and we welcome your on-going support. Together we can empower many more women / small businesses.

Isata at her table

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