Supporting entrepreneurs

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Comment by Sarah Ban on December 4, 2009 at 5:58pm

http://www.microfinancefocus.com/blog/2009/11/07/how-to-provide-for-sustainable-development-and-a-social-mission/

An interesting blog about microUP -- a "holistic solution."

Comment by John ALI on August 24, 2009 at 8:00pm

We have over these years been talking about private sector development especially in the developing countries.
Areas have been identified, where these supports ought to go to. For example in Ghana the current Government made a pledge that there is going to be free school uniform for all deprived student across the country and that the manufacture of materials for the uniform should be by the local textile companies. Further, the President again is directing that Tailors should be ready to sew.
I believe that this among other things can help propel support for entrepreneurs.

Comment by Sidney Clouston on August 22, 2009 at 4:32pm

Dear Fellows and Friends:

We are establishing on the foundation of the Nigerian government's Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) at the Usmanu Danfodio University's ECN R&D Center the Sustainable Energy Center of Excellence. We have submitted our profile to the Accion Internationl group. www.accion.org that does Microfinance.
We plan for Contract Growing and a Standard Offer related to Biomass, Bioenergy and Biofuels. We are seeking Third Party Funding. that includes a
Carbon Credits offering. Uplifting the Poor permites them to join the working
people and gain an income. The result of this approach is an income and an ability to demand more goods and services which spreads the economic benefits to existing and other new business.

Comment by jalang'o jarateng on August 21, 2009 at 11:29am

there is more to that, many entreprenuers in Africa are facing great challanges in realizing their dreams of becoming great enntreprenures, not because htey dont have what it takes but just simple steps to business world.we always find ourselves emulating hte failed icons we never focus on hte succesive ones,we dwell so much on the failures such that we cannot see even the slightest success window that is open for us.the other thing is lack of propoer knowledge and by that i mean everyone who starts a business os ofcourse knowlegdable to some point in life but the skills of doing business hav eto be taughjt by a profession who will guide you to the correct path in business,third but not last put into practice whatever you learn from whoever you learn it from, dont just accept everything that comes your way but what you deem positive and can help in one way or another,let us not turn ourselves into information junkies.

i know that there are many challanges in life and in business concerning an entreprenure and more so a young one. all you got to to is tighten your belt toughen your skin and soften your spirit coz youar e bound to get great challages and discouragements as you journey towards success.
success is defined as doing what you ought to do at the right time.

Comment by Fiona Mati on August 20, 2009 at 10:34pm

Following from Martin's comment ... I know that youth enterprise is the future for sustainable development. The youth have the power of numbers and by virtue of age are the cradle of innovation.

Though it is true that access to finance still is an obstacle to enterprise, I have come across young East African entrepreneurs who still (knowing sources of finance) feel not confident operating as "legit" business owners.

I have talked to some entrepreneurs that say (particularly young women) they feel "shy" approaching people (individuals or financial institutions) for loans to either start up or expand their enterprises. More so, there exist barriers to youth entrepreneurship such as registration, public procurement laws, licensing, and intellectual property protection regulations, that make it an up hill task for young entrepreneurs to take the plunge into enterprise.

I believe that for starters, efforts to increase the human and social capital of the youth are critical. Only then can any meaningful change be made not only for the youth, but for Africa's economic development.

Comment by Martin Kalonga Chifwala on August 20, 2009 at 1:43pm

Hi Ben,
There are so many opportunities in Africa in which younth can venture and better there lives.But the problem most Africans face is Where to source money to finance there project since African Banks really marginalise younth,low income groups and SMEs without collateral or Business starters,thus my view to start up an organisation to centre on such.
The best to do it is to initiate a programmes to train youth entrepreneural skills before they are allowed to borrow and putting up close monitoring programmes, and also ecourage them work in groups in order to increase management capacity.
And the underlaying purpose of such project is to create a revolving fund that would live the test of time.The reason for the rate is to allow the organisation meet its day to day costs of runing the organisation.Further would enhence resposibility on the part of the enterpreneur.
Ben,if anyone is interested let me know and we can discuss further or can be contacted through my email:chifwalam@yahoo.com.sg

Comment by Martin Kalonga Chifwala on August 14, 2009 at 4:18pm

Hi evryone,
lam an entrepreneur wishing to establish an organisation whose project is to focus on introducing a new and innovative way of providing financial services to low income zambians( especially SMEs and smallholder farmers) at an affortable rate.
l was a banker and have a rich experience of 10years hence l know my experiance will make it easy for me to run such an organisation.in this vein,lam looking for partners or organisation that can assist me with unsecured loan to implement this project.

Comment by George Lepuha Faka'osi on June 28, 2009 at 12:00am

Rabecca,

Entrepreneurs need to keep tight hence work closer together! The sole purpose of me signing up to business fights poverty is having the opportunity to share ideas hence to make a difference! I would like to applaud your confident courage Rabecca in sharing with us your service to the women of your nation!

Rabecca, here in the Kingdom of Tonga, a volcanic tiny island of 752,000sq km and a growing population of 100,000 are in need of services as such! I have a few questions as follows; How do we train attitude? Especially after a traumatic occasion! I am a firm believer of firms such as yours because you are able to after putting women into jobs monitor them and foster them through the hardship of the new challenge of working etc...

I am willing to carry on further discussions regarding how you manage!

Kind Regards,

George Faka'osi

Comment by Hillary M Chindodo on June 9, 2009 at 6:55pm

Hi, I run the Zimbabwe Investor website & magazine. Zimbabwe Investor is a business and investments website that seeks to provide information and expose oportunities in Zimbabwe and the region that encourage sustainable investment by Africans.

Comment by Rabecca Musonda-Machiya on June 3, 2009 at 1:01pm

Hie every one my name is Rabecca and I have just joined the group. I have been interested in the discussions and will definitely contribute after reading through. I am currently running a maid training centre which I started last year November. My last employment was with UNWFP for 5 years, until they cut some posts due to funding which affected me . My experience probably makes it easy for me to run this centre. I have made a curriculum since there is no established (as far as I know) curriculum for training maid’s in Zambia(would appreciate resources if any are available on this). Most of the people whom I train are vulnerable women i.e widows, single mothers, uneducated ladies we have no minimum education requirement all the ladies are welcome. After training them we source for employment for them. Since I started I have been able to place over 50 ladies in employment. My curriculum includes HIV/AIDS, CODE OF CONDUCT, BABYSITTING, HOUSEHOLD CHORES .etc. I better stop or I will go on and on. Hope I can get some bright ideas from you all. I am excited about joining the group..
rgds

Beckie

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